India step up training at Galle International Stadium ahead of first Test
India’s cricket team conducted an intensive practice session at Galle International Stadium on August 13, 2026, as they prepared for the first Test against Sri Lanka scheduled for the coming weekend.
The session took place while the ground was being readied and broadcast crews set up equipment on Thursday, and the team focused on sharpening multiple facets of play ahead of the match. Coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill and chief selector Ajit Agarkar inspected the pitch, which was described as a dull shade of brown against a lush green outfield. Initial warm-ups included short football sorties and fielding drills before the players moved to the nets.
Fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh ran catching drills that emphasised ambidexterity, with players practising one‑handed catches with either hand. Exercises also concentrated on reaction work to manage ricochets off the stumps, with Ghosh maintaining intensity throughout the session. KL Rahul, identified in team photographs as vice‑captain, took part in these fielding routines.
Batting practice in the adjacent nets featured openers K.L. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal facing a mixture of pace, spin and throw‑downs. Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal also completed batting stints; the report noted these batters could well be in the top‑six for India. Sarfaraz Khan, who replaced the injured Sai Sudarshan in the squad, participated in the nets as well.
Among the bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna led the seamers while Kuldeep Yadav worked in the spinners’ corner. A number of India’s pace bowlers overstepped in their final delivery stride in what the report described as an attempt to gain extra pace. The practice included monitoring of such technical details ahead of the match.
When the afternoon sun intensified, Rishabh Pant practised wicket‑keeping drills using a tennis ball before players retreated to the air‑conditioned dressing room for relief. Photographs from the session credited to PTI showed vice‑captain KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant and Prasidh Krishna among those involved, while some tourists were seen flying kites from the nearby Dutch fort.
The team’s preparations will continue in Galle ahead of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, which is set to commence in Galle over the weekend.
