Team India coach Gautam Gambhir lauded his team's character and mental toughness after securing a 1-0 Test series victory against Sri Lanka, while also singling out Sri Lankan batsman Sonal Dinusha for his 'exceptional performance' in forcing a draw in the second Test with an unbeaten 133.
Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket team underwent an intense net session in Colombo.
India captain Shubman Gill on Friday spent considerable time fine-tuning his game against that variation at the team's training session ahead of the upcoming second Test against Sri Lanka, in Colombo.
India retained a firm grip on the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, despite Sonal Dinusha's unbeaten 85, with the hosts still facing the prospect of a follow-on after rain and bad light ended play early on day three.
Dhruv Jurel's unbeaten 115, supported by Rishabh Pant's fifty, helped India declare at a commanding 503-9 on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka. India then took two quick wickets, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 8-2, still 495 runs behind, before rain and bad light stopped play.
Sri Lanka's remarkable lower-order resistance helped deny India a series sweep, with the tailenders facing more deliveries than the team's openers across the series.
Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha scored an unbeaten 133, his second century of the match, to help the hosts salvage a draw against India in the second Test, denying them a series sweep.
India is poised to secure its first overseas Test series victory in three years as they face Sri Lanka in the second and final match, with skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal under pressure to deliver substantial knocks.
Shubman Gill called India's drawn second Test against Sri Lanka frustrating but praised his players' effort, cleared Mohammad Siraj of injury concerns and backed India's WTC qualification hopes.
Sri Lankan spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis have established the Galle International Cricket Stadium as their formidable stronghold, collectively taking 145 wickets, posing a significant challenge for visiting teams, especially India.
Sri Lankan all-rounder Sonal Dinusha, who averaged 140 in the recent Test series against India, found solace and success in cricket as an escape from financial hardship. His journey, marked by dedication and a relentless work ethic, saw him rise from a child without a bat to a national hero, with coaches highlighting his unwavering commitment to the game.
Sahibzada Farhan's unbeaten century powered Pakistan to a 102-run victory over Namibia, securing their place in the Super Eight of the Twenty20 World Cup.
Tensions flared in the dugout as Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha was seen in a heated exchange with head coach Mike Hesson during their must-win T20 World Cup clash against Namibia at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
When Stuart Broad dismissed South Africa's Kyle Verreynne with an edge behind to Ben Foakes, he become only the second bowler to take 100 Test wickets at Lord's, joining fellow great and bowling partner James Anderson.
Pakistan defeated Namibia by 102 runs to qualify for the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup, with Sahibzada Farhan scoring a century and the spinners delivering an excellent performance.
Faheem Ashraf saved Pakistan the blushes, smashing a blistering 29 from 11 balls, as they registered a tense three-wicket victory against the Netherlands in the opening match of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka's cricket authorities are planning to modernize Sinhalese Sports Club ground as a venue equal to world headquarters Lord's, the cricket board said.
With the individual brilliance of just-retired Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga missing, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara on Sunday said his team will have to build bowling partnerships to trouble the Indians in the second cricket Test starting in Colombo on Monday.
Still licking the wounds of a 10-wicket mauling in Galle, a jittery India go into the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka starting in Colombo on Sunday with their status as the World No 1 team at stake.
Sri Lanka opener Tharanga Paranavitana has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the second Test against New Zealand. The punishment was handed down by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees following a hearing at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground at the conclusion of the second Test in Colombo on Sunday.
Early morning showers prevented a prompt start to the match.
'Pakistan played well in the latter part of the Australia tour and will be very difficult opposition to face,' says Bangladesh batting sensation Mohammad Ashraful.
The weather though holds the key to the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka getting underway.
Shafique and Salman pummel Sri Lanka, Pakistan eye series sweep
Dominant Pakistan took charge of the second Test against Sri Lanka after bundling out the hosts in two sessions for a paltry 166.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in familiar home conditions next month.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title. The 10th edition of the 20-overs global showpiece event will run from February 7 to March 8.
Fresh from their series-levelling victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, some Indian players including captain Virat Kohli were seen enjoying a game of badminton.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been included in the 16-man squad for the second Test of the three-match series against India which begins on Thursday after recovering from illness.
Pakistan completed a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka after left-arm spinner Noman Ali bowled the tourists to a comprehensive victory by an innings and 222 runs in the second Test.
South Africa's spin frailties were laid bare once again as the tourists collapsed for 124 to concede a first innings lead of 214 runs at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara picked up four wickets to help Sri Lanka register a comfortable 70-run win in the third and final one-day international against Bangladesh on Saturday and level the series at 1-1.
Chasing an improbable target of 490 to level the series, the tourists finished day three on 139-5, their highest total in the spin-dominated series, at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
Sri Lanka's Kaushal Silva roared back into form with a century in the final Test against Australia on Tuesday, boosting the hosts' hopes of a 3-0 sweep against the world number one team at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.
India have posted 6 of the 7 600+ totals posted in Test cricket this year!
Images from Day 1 in the third Test between India and Sri Lanka, in Colombo.
India captain Virat Kohli has confirmed that fit-again opening batsman KL Rahul will return to the side for the second test against Sri Lanka, with Abhinav Mukund appearing the player most likely to lose his spot.
Dhananjaya de Silva hit a maiden century and combined with Dinesh Chandimal to resurrect Sri Lanka's innings after a poor start against Australia on the opening day of the third and final Test on Saturday.
Saha, 32, possesses none of his predecessor's flamboyance or big-hitting ability with the bat but his dexterity behind the stumps, to go with his determination in front of them, has meant that Dhoni, who now plays only limited-overs cricket, has not really been missed.
