In just a few days, the Indian Test team, led by Shubman Gill, will resume its quest to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship. India will take on hosts Sri Lanka in a two-Test series that is expected
to be a stern challenge for the visitors.
Currently fifth on the points table, India find themselves in a tricky position and will need a much-improved performance to keep their qualification hopes alive. But before getting down to business, the players looked relaxed and cheerful as they arrived in Colombo, with smiles all around.
Dressed in their travel kits, the squad appeared in high spirits. Wicketkeepers Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel even swapped their gloves for a camera, trying their hand at photography with Kuldeep Yadav striking a pose.
Capturing smiles and creating travel memories on the way to Colombo 😁🎞️#TeamIndia have arrived in Sri Lanka 🛬#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/TuRFOW4gIw
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 5, 2026
Before the Test series begins, India will switch into red-ball mode with a three-day warm-up game at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo from August 7. The team will then head to Galle for the opening Test, which starts on August 15.
While the rest of the squad has reached Colombo, top-order batter B Sai Sudharsan remains at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, where he is recovering from a toe injury.
“Sudharsan is training at the CoE and batting at nets over an hour, while recovering from a toe injury. His assessment will continue to take place over the next three-four days before taking a final call (on his availability),” a source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Sudharsan picked up the injury during the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka.
“It needs to be ensured that he regains full fitness before returning to international cricket. We can’t have another situation where (Harshit) Rana broke down again soon after his return to top-flight cricket,” the source said.
