India captain Shubman Gill looked determined during an intense batting session at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo as he prepares for the second and final Test against Sri Lanka, beginning August 23. After an underwhelming outing in the series opener, Gill appeared keen to sharpen his approach against Sri Lanka’s spin attack.
The right-hander scored 16 and 8 in the first Test in Galle, where India secured a convincing 165-run victory. With India leading 1-0, Gill will be eager to make a stronger contribution in Colombo and lead from the front with the bat. According to a report by the Times of India, Gill spent an extended period in the nets and focused heavily on playing spin. He repeatedly stepped out of his crease while facing Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, and Saransh Jain, attempting to put pressure on the bowlers.
Gill did not shy away from attacking shots during the session. Several deliveries were struck high into the stands, while teammates and members of the support staff reminded him to keep his eyes on the ball. Despite a few risky strokes, the Indian captain continued to back his aggressive approach.
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The 26-year-old also worked on more conventional cricketing shots, including inside-out drives over cover, lofted drives over the bowler and attacking strokes towards long-on. His footwork appeared to improve as the session progressed, suggesting that he was working specifically on finding effective methods to counter Sri Lanka’s spinners.
🔥 #ShubmanGill means business in Colombo!
The India captain puts on a show in the nets, smashing massive sixes against spin ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka. 💥🏏
Watch exclusive visuals from Team India’s practice session. 🇮🇳
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/W8GnmxJklF pic.twitter.com/Zb6DdzpDBz
— TOI Sports (@toisports) August 21, 2026
Gill occasionally moved deep into his crease before taking on India’s left-arm spinners, while he continued to attack Saransh Jain during an extended spell in the nets. His approach could become important against Sri Lankan spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha in the second Test.
However, Gill’s aggressive tactics did not work against Jayasuriya in Galle. He stepped out after facing 28 deliveries but failed to control the shot. He was eventually dismissed while attempting an early sweep after misjudging the length.
India’s spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, however, saw no reason for concern over Gill’s approach. He explained that the captain was simply adapting to different conditions while relying on his own methods. “With Gill, the flow of runs will always be there.” Bahutule added that Gill is focused on finding the best ways to defend, score and adapt according to the situation.
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Meanwhile, India’s preparations were affected by the absence of KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav from Friday’s practice session. In Kuldeep’s absence, Saransh Jain bowled an extended spell in the nets, potentially strengthening his case for selection.
With Sri Lanka adding more left-handed batters to their squad, Jain’s ability to provide a different spin option could become significant. For Gill, though, the immediate objective will be to turn his aggressive net-session approach into a substantial score when India take on Sri Lanka in Colombo.
