India v Sri Lanka XI Day 2 in Colombo: Shubman Gill’s fitness in focus

India and a Sri Lanka XI resume their warm-up in Colombo on Day 2 with India set to bat and the availability of Shubman Gill the primary uncertainty ahead of the innings.

India will go out to bat after Sri Lanka XI’s first innings was completed on Day 1, and the visitors are hopeful Gill will be able to take the field after missing the opening day due to a hand injury sustained in practice.

Gill did not play on Day 1 after receiving a blow to his right ring finger in Thursday’s practice session, and the BCCI Medical Team has been monitoring his condition closely; if he is declared fit he could slot into India’s batting during this warm-up.

Day 1 saw Sri Lanka XI post 363/8, with a strong opening session powered by Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha that put India’s pacers under pressure before the visitors found a response.

Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav each claimed two wickets as India fought back later in the day, trimming the Sri Lanka XI to 363/8 at the close and leaving India with substantial batting time to make use of today’s pitch.

KL Rahul led India in Gill’s absence on the opening day, and the possibility of Gill returning to the middle has drawn attention with the first Test in Galle approaching; if Gill does not recover, India will once again proceed without their captain.

A team update is expected before India’s innings begins; whether Gill gets any batting time in this warm-up will determine the match practice available to him ahead of the first Test in Galle.