Before the start of the Test series in Sri Lanka, Team India tested its preparations in a practice match. In this three-day practice match in Colombo, the Indian bowlers and batsmen faced a good challenge in the first two days. On the final day of the match, the Indian batsmen certainly looked in their element, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s most notable innings coming from him. Jaiswal, who was dismissed within two balls in the first innings, batted explosively in the second, staying at the crease for a long time and scoring a good half-century.
On Sunday, August 9, the final day of the practice match, which began on Friday, August 7, Team India was set a target of 207 runs. This time, Team India’s opening pair was changed. KL Rahul, who scored 40 runs in the first innings, was rested and replaced by captain Shubman Gill, who was unable to bat in the first innings due to injury. This innings was crucial for both, but it was even more so for Jaiswal, who had been dismissed after playing just two balls in the first innings and had failed to open his account.
The focus was on whether Jaiswal would once again face trouble against the left-arm pacer. But that wasn’t the case. The young Indian opener didn’t take long to settle in and began smashing boundaries. He reached his half-century in just 43 balls. Jaiswal’s fifty came with a four, and he followed it up with a six and a four off the next two balls. With this innings, Jaiswal demonstrated his ability to learn from mistakes and make quick improvements, and he’s ready for the challenge of playing in Sri Lanka for the first time.
Speaking of the third day’s play, it began with the second innings of Sri Lanka Cricket XI. The Indian team had declared their first innings on the second day at 357. Sri Lanka XI then batted aggressively and declared their innings at 200. In the second innings, experienced spinner Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets for Team India, while fast bowler Gurnur Brar proved effective this time as well, taking two wickets.