India vs Sri Lanka Tests: Visitors brave the heat in Colombo nets ahead of 2nd Test

India vs Sri Lanka Tests: Visitors brave the heat in Colombo nets ahead of 2nd Test India stepped up preparations for the second Test against the backdrop of sweltering conditions in Colombo, with Shubman Gill unleashing some sizeable hits during the practice session.

Key points

• Surrounded by expansive trees and skyscrapers, the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground was like a sauna on Friday (August 21, 2026).
• Yashasvi Jaiswal, right, with Devdutt Padikkal, left, during a training session ahead of second test match between India and Sri Lanka.
• Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav skipped the pre-game drills, and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule clarified that the duo were resting.
• Bowling coach Morne Morkel, always busy at nets, ran in and bowled too.
• Gill freed his arms and unleashed major shots while the warning 'watch out' rang aloud through the ground.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, right, with Devdutt Padikkal, left, during a training session ahead of second test match between India and Sri Lanka. Photo Credit: PTI.

Surrounded by expansive trees and skyscrapers, the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground was like a sauna on Friday (August 21, 2026). A maximum of 30 degrees Celsius belied the actual heat felt on the premises, and in this cauldron, the Indian team practised as part of the build-up towards the second Test commencing on Sunday (August 23).

K.L. Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav skipped the pre-game drills, and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule clarified that the duo were resting. The others did their batting and bowling stints while coach Gautam Gambhir and chief-selector Ajit Agarkar watched. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill constituted the first quartet that batted.

Gill freed his arms and unleashed major shots while the warning 'watch out' rang aloud through the ground. Afterwards, the skipper had a chat with Gambhir while Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan and others batted. Off-spinner Saransh Jain turned his arm over and it remains to be seen if he will come into contention against a left-hander heavy Sri Lankan batting.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel, always busy at nets, ran in and bowled too. He had mentioned regarding coping with the heat in Galle, guess the same challenge awaits his wards in the Sri Lankan capital.

In short, india vs Sri Lanka Tests: Visitors brave the heat in Colombo nets is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.