India are set to return to ICC World Test Championship (WTC) action after a gap of almost nine months when they take on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series. The opening Test begins on August 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, with the Shubman Gill-led side aiming to make a strong start to its WTC 2025-27 campaign.
India currently occupy fifth place in the WTC points table, making every available point important for their qualification hopes. With the Sri Lanka series approaching, the Indian team management has already stepped up preparations to ensure the players are ready for the challenging conditions.
India recently completed a three-day practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI and secured a six-wicket victory. The following day, the touring squad held an optional training session at the Nondescripts Cricket Club, with most members of the team attending. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar were among those who missed the session.
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Captain Shubman Gill, meanwhile, emerged as the centre of attention after spending additional time preparing for one of the biggest challenges he could face in the Test series — reverse swing.
According to RevSportz, the Indian team management asked the ground staff at the Nondescripts Cricket Club to recreate the surface used during the practice game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI. The pitch was deliberately left rough, with cracks visible on the surface, creating conditions similar to a fourth-day Test wicket.
🔴GAMBHIR WANTS WARM-UP PITCH AGAIN FOR SRI LANKA TESTS🤯
🎙️: Gautam Gambhir & Team Management want a pitch similar to the one used in the warm-up match for the Sri Lanka Tests!
Shubman Gill is also preparing specifically for those conditions ahead of the big challenge against… pic.twitter.com/YI5os32y7c
— Sam (@cricsam02) August 11, 2026
The objective was to give India’s batters a realistic opportunity to work on their defence, footwork and technique against an older ball capable of moving in the air. After completing his regular warm-up, Gill spent around 20 minutes facing throw-downs from Nuwan Seneviratne, Raghavedra Dwivedi and Dayanand Garani. The trio had new, semi-old and old Kookaburra balls available, but Gill specifically asked them to use semi-old deliveries.
The Indian captain wanted to replicate the conditions that could produce reverse swing during the upcoming Tests. Following the throw-down session, Gill moved to the centre wicket, where Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi also bowled to him with a semi-old ball. India have carried different types of Kookaburra balls to Sri Lanka as part of their preparations. The focus is understandable, considering how quickly the ball can deteriorate on dry and abrasive Sri Lankan surfaces.
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Once the ball becomes older and rougher, reverse swing can become a major challenge for batters. India’s detailed preparation suggests the team is determined not to be caught off guard when the ball starts behaving differently in the latter stages of an innings.
For Gill and his teammates, the upcoming Sri Lanka Tests will therefore be about more than simply adapting to spin-friendly conditions. Handling the old ball, reverse swing and changing pitch conditions could prove equally important as India look to strengthen their position in the WTC standings.
