India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, Test Warm Up Match: Jadeja, Kuldeep and Suthar put India in command ahead of crucial day 2

With regular captain Shubman Gill rested after suffering an impact injury to his right ring finger, KL Rahul led the side on Friday as India’s spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav enjoyed an extended workout ahead of the opening Test in Galle.

Each of the three left-arm spinners picked up two wickets, exploiting increasing assistance from the surface as the day progressed. Jadeja returned figures of 2/64, Kuldeep claimed 2/76, while Suthar impressed with 2/48. Tall seamer Gurnoor Brar also chipped in with a wicket, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna went wicketless despite bowling lengthy spells.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Sri Lanka Cricket XI made full use of favourable batting conditions. Openers Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha laid a solid platform with a century opening stand, putting India’s pace attack under pressure on a surface that offered little movement.

Madushka looked set for a bigger score before a mix-up resulted in his run-out for 66, handing India their first breakthrough. Rasantha continued to anchor the innings and eventually made 71, helping Sri Lanka XI remain in control through the first two sessions.

India’s fortunes changed once the slower bowlers came into the attack. Jadeja struck first after lunch, bowling Pasindu Sooriyabandara, before Suthar removed the well-set Rasantha by enticing him out of his crease.

Brar added another breakthrough just before tea by dismissing Pavan Rathnayake, allowing India to claw their way back into the contest. The final session belonged to Kuldeep, who dismissed Ahan Wickramasinghe and Anjala Bandara in quick succession as the wrist-spinner began extracting significant turn from the worn surface.

Jadeja later trapped Ramesh Mendis lbw, while Suthar wrapped up an impressive day by dismissing Sonal Dinusha, who top-scored after tea with a fluent 52.

India’s immediate objective will be to clean up the remaining two wickets and give the batters maximum time in the middle before the first Test begins on August 15. The warm-up fixture is the visitors’ only opportunity to assess combinations and batting order in match conditions.

The bowling unit will be encouraged by the way the spinners grew into the contest, but the team management is also likely to review the performance of the pace attack after Sri Lanka Cricket XI piled up more than 360 runs on the opening day. With Gill’s finger injury also under observation, India’s batting innings on Day 2 could provide valuable clues regarding the team’s preparations and possible combinations for the Galle Test.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka Cricket XI 363/8 in 90 overs (Ravindu Rasantha 71, Nishan Madushka 66, Sonal Dinusha 52; Ravindra Jadeja 2/64, Manav Suthar 2/48, Kuldeep Yadav 2/76).