India's preparations for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka could be hampered by persistent rain, with wet weather forecast throughout the three-day warm-up match in Colombo. The visitors are scheduled to face Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground from Friday, but heavy showers are expected to interrupt play across all three days.
The practice fixture is India's only match before the first Test in Galle on August 15, making every session crucial for players looking to adapt to Sri Lankan conditions.
India vs Sri Lanka warm-up weather forecast
Weather conditions in Colombo are expected to remain unfavourable on Friday, with a 90 per cent chance of rain during the morning. Around 9.4 mm of rainfall is forecast, while temperatures are likely to hover near 30°C with humidity reaching 78 per cent.
Read more: Delhi-NCR weather today
Dense cloud cover of around 99 per cent is expected to dominate the skies, with visibility likely to drop to approximately 5 km, raising concerns over prolonged interruptions.
The forecast offers little relief later in the day. Rain probability remains at 70 per cent during the afternoon, with another 4.9 mm of rainfall expected alongside overcast skies and gusty winds.
Why the warm-up match is important for India
The three-day fixture offers India a valuable opportunity to acclimatise before the two-Test series against Sri Lanka begins in Galle.
Batters are expected to use the match to familiarise themselves with spin-friendly conditions, an area that has troubled India in recent Test outings. Facing Sri Lanka XI in local conditions should provide a more realistic assessment than practice sessions alone.
Captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have already spent time preparing against spin before arriving in Colombo, but match practice remains an essential part of the build-up.
Bowling unit eyes crucial match practice
India's bowlers are also hoping to make the most of the warm-up game as they adjust to local pitches.
With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable because of injury, Mohammed Siraj will spearhead the pace attack. He is expected to be supported by Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain.
Brar and Jain earned praise during India A's recent tour of Sri Lanka and will be keen to build on those performances with another outing in match conditions.
Gautam Gambhir urges players to maximise preparations
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has stressed the importance of making the most of every available session before the Test series begins.
He encouraged the squad to complete every aspect of their preparation so they are fully equipped, regardless of whether India bat or bowl first in the opening Test.
The coaching staff view the warm-up fixture as a key opportunity to fine-tune both batting and bowling combinations before the series gets underway.
