India began their Sri Lanka tour with a win over Sri Lanka Cricket XI in the three-day practice game by 6 wickets. This game was played at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo from August 7-9, 2026.

Sri Lanka Cricket XI won the toss and posted 363/8d after choosing to bat first. Nishan Fernando, Ravindu Rasantha and Sonal Dinusha made fifties. In response, India made 357/6d with Devdutt Padikkal making 142* and Ravindra Jadeja making 63 runs.

SLC XI then made 200/6d, with Fernando making 63, setting India 207 runs to win the game. India achieved the target with ease as Yashasvi Jaiswal starred with 61 and Shubman Gill made 44. India won the game by 6 wickets, scoring 214/4.

Rishabh Pant batted in both innings, scoring 2 and 28 respectively, and looked at ease on the crease. During his batting, Pant also showed off some of his football skills as, instead of using his bat to defend a delivery, he kicked the ball away.

Keshav Nuwanta and Dilum Sudheera came for some pasting by Pant as he smashed three huge sixes against the bowlers. Then, in an effort to silence Pant, Sudheera altered his bowling strategy. To prevent the batter from making his powerful blows, he began bowling far outside the leg stump.

Pant utilized his feet and booted the ball away like a football player instead of just letting the deliveries go wide. There was a lot of chuckling at the strange maneuver.

The first Test between Sri Lanka and India will be played at Galle from August 15 onwards.