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.
Prasidh Krishna's hostile spell and Manav Suthar's two wickets helped India keep Sri Lanka under pressure on Day 3, despite 50's from Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Sonal Dinusha in Colombo on Tuesday.
India is on the verge of a comprehensive series-sweeping victory against Sri Lanka in the second and final Test, despite a defiant 115-run partnership between Pasindu Sooriyabandara (92) and Kamindu Mendis (55) in Sri Lanka's follow-on innings.
Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja led India's bowling attack on Day 3 in Galle.
Indian spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has suggested introducing free-hits in Test cricket to curb the increasing problem of no-balls, a concern highlighted by Indian spinners overstepping 10 times in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka. He acknowledged the issue and the efforts being made to rectify it.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal blasted a quickfire 61 from 46 balls before Mohammed Siraj smashed a match-winning 27 not out from 13 balls to power India to a six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in the warm-up match.
India's batting strength, highlighted by centuries from Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, is set to face the West Indies in the second ODI to seal the series. However, the team's pace-bowling combination remains a significant concern, particularly after the unsuccessful experiment with Nitish Kumar Reddy. The match is crucial for the West Indies, who are looking to keep the series alive and build confidence for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Devdutt Padikkal struck his second century of the series, capitalising on Sri Lanka's early dropped chances to make 117 and steer India towards a strong first-innings total.
India's three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting Sunday, is a vital preparatory stage for the ICC World Cup 2027. The series will focus on giving game time to young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and assessing the form of key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who is nearing a significant ODI milestone. The development of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is also a priority. The West Indies team, grappling with recent losses and financial issues, will aim to overcome these challenges and deliver a competitive performance.
Manav Suthar's exceptional spin bowling, including a six-wicket haul in the second innings, led India to a comprehensive 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening Test in Galle, securing a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel has indicated that India might field three left-arm spinners - Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Manav Suthar - in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Devdutt Padikkal hit an unbeaten 142 as India recovered from an early setback to reach 357/6 against Sri Lanka XI in Colombo.
Maestro Virat Kohli and skipper Shubman Gill displayed their mastery in 50-over format with virtuoso hundreds as India subdued the West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
With Kuldeep Yadav looking ineffective, India could look towards including off-spinner Saransh Jain in the playing XI in the second Test in Colombo, especially looking at three left-handers in the Sri Lankan top seven.
Sri Lanka fought back with seven wickets from Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha on rain-hit Day 2 of the first Test, but Devdutt Padikkal's superb 167 powered India to 460-9.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has become the country's highest run-scorer in ICC World Test Championship history, surpassing Shubman Gill, and also overtook MS Dhoni as India's highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests.
Prasidh Krishna was rewarded for his relentless effort in India's Sri Lanka Test series win, taking seven wickets and earning the Impact Player of the Series medal.
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's squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is expected to be announced next week, with fitness concerns surrounding pace leader Jasprit Bumrah.
Sonal Dinusha's maiden Test hundred sparked Sri Lanka's fightback in Galle, but India retained firm control after bowling out the hosts for 284 to secure a 178-run lead.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir indicated that top batters might be rested from white-ball cricket to prepare for Tests during the upcoming New Zealand tour. He emphasised the importance of Test cricket, the challenge of multi-format players, and discussed preparations for the 2027 World Cup, highlighting the crucial roles of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, and praising Shubman Gill's captaincy.
Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif criticised captain Shubman Gill for not giving spinner Kuldeep Yadav enough longer spells during the first Test against Sri Lanka, suggesting a lack of faith.
Ravichandran Ashwin crowned Sachin Tendulkar India's greatest cricketer in his all-time bracket, while making surprise calls by choosing Sehwag over Dhoni and Bumrah over Virat Kohli.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's standing in red-ball cricket faces a crucial test as the team embarks on a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Manav Suthar's 10-wicket haul against Sri Lanka showcased his skill, meticulous preparation and growing maturity, marking him as India's potential next spin leader.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak lauded the team's productive warm-up victory against Sri Lanka, highlighting strong performances from both batters and bowlers, including Shubman Gill's quick 44 and Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142, which set a positive tone for the upcoming two-match Test series.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik has emphasised the need for consistency and a clearly defined role for Kuldeep Yadav in the Test side, especially as Ravindra Jadeja approaches the end of his career. Kartik believes Kuldeep, despite being a match-winner, has not received the sustained backing needed to flourish in Test cricket under previous regimes.
India have held a significant stranglehold on the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka at lunch on Day 4 in Colombo on Wednesday.
Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket team underwent an intense net session in Colombo.
Sri Lanka Cricket XI's batters made India's bowlers toil as they piled up 363/8 on Day 1 of the Warm-up match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo on Friday.
India have never looked so vulnerable in Test cricket in recent times. They need a complete reset of their approach to Test cricket, and perhaps a new coach with fresh ideas could revitalise Shubman Gill and his boys.
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.
Ravindra Jadeja became the seventh Indian bowler to reach the coveted mark during the fourth day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner is preparing for a tough challenge against India's Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming five-match ODI series. Santner hopes the Indian stalwarts don't dominate on New Zealand pitches as they have in the past. He also discussed the importance of the series for World Cup preparations and the challenges of the two-Test series for a new-look Indian side.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes K L Rahul performs best when not burdened by captaincy.
Uncapped off-spinner Saransh Jain has been named as the replacement for the injured Washington Sundar in India's Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, while the availability of key players Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan hinges on their fitness clearance.
Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes India's recent Test struggles stem from the departure of senior players, emphasising the need for a core of seven to eight experienced cricketers in the longer format.
Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Saransh Jain, 33, has been named in India's 15-member squad for the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Washington Sundar, marking a surprise call-up after impressive all-round performances for India A.
India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule defended Kuldeep Yadav's performance in the first Test, stating he remains in the team's plans despite a modest outing.
Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan was named as the replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, the BCCI announced on Sunday.
