Padikkal dazzles, Siraj signs off with sixes: India tick every box in their Galle dress rehearsal

India could hardly have asked for a more encouraging dress rehearsal, sweeping to a clinical and comprehensive victory in their three-day warm-up fixture against a Sri Lanka XI in Colombo. With bat and ball clicking into gear, and their captain returning to action after an injury scare, the tourists ticked just about every box ahead of the first Test in Galle.

The performance provided valuable match practice and a timely confidence boost for a side that has been dogged by injury concerns throughout its preparations.

Padikkal leads the way

The standout performer with the bat was Devdutt Padikkal, who produced a fluent and composed unbeaten 142. The elegant left-hander made the most of the batting-friendly conditions, building his innings with authority and offering a timely reminder of his class.

His century formed the backbone of India's first-innings effort, and will have done his prospects of a place in the eleven no harm at all, particularly with the middle order under scrutiny following a spate of injuries.

Support from the all-rounders

Padikkal found valuable support from India's lower-middle order. Ravindra Jadeja, back in the side after recovering from a tennis elbow injury, contributed a useful 63, showcasing his readiness for the challenge ahead.

Uncapped left-arm spinner Manav Suthar also impressed with the bat, chipping in with 41 to underline his all-round credentials. Their contributions helped India declare their first innings on a commanding 357 for six, a total that reflected their dominance.

A strong start to the chase

India's positive intent continued when it was their turn to bat again, with the openers laying an excellent platform. Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill combined for a 105-run opening partnership to put the tourists firmly in control.

Jaiswal, in particular, responded to a first-innings duck in the most emphatic fashion, blasting a quickfire 61 from just 46 balls before retiring. It was exactly the kind of aggressive, positive statement India would have wanted from their opener heading into the series.

Gill passes his fitness test

Perhaps the most reassuring sight for India was that of Shubman Gill returning to competitive action. Having suffered a finger injury scare in training that kept him out of the opening day, the captain came through unscathed to make 44.

His time in the middle will have been as much about proving his fitness as scoring runs, and his participation offered a significant boost to a team that could ill afford to lose its skipper to injury before the Galle Test.

Contributions down the order

There were also useful runs for others in the batting group as India worked their way to the target. Rishabh Pant contributed 28 and Dhruv Jurel made 17, both getting valuable time at the crease.

The steady accumulation of runs across the order ensured that several players had the opportunity to spend time in the middle, precisely the kind of preparation the management would have sought from the fixture.

Siraj's spectacular finish

The most eye-catching moment of the chase, however, was reserved for an unlikely source. Mohammed Siraj signed off the innings in spectacular style, smashing 32 off just 15 balls to complete the victory.

His cameo included three consecutive sixes, a flourish that summed up India's positive and confident approach throughout the match. It was a fitting, entertaining way to seal a comfortable win and send the squad into the Test series on a high.

Valuable preparation

Beyond the result, the fixture served its primary purpose of providing crucial acclimatisation to the conditions. With the demanding challenge of Sri Lankan spin awaiting on the turning tracks of Galle and Colombo, time in the middle was invaluable for India's batters.

The management will also have been keen to manage workloads carefully, given the injury issues that have plagued the squad. Getting players match-ready without any further setbacks was a key objective, and one that was largely achieved.

The road ahead

With the warm-up successfully negotiated, India's focus now shifts entirely to the main event. The first Test gets under way at the iconic Galle International Stadium on August 15, followed by the second at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23.

As the opening assignment of a new World Test Championship cycle, both matches carry significant weight. India will be determined to translate the momentum from this clinical warm-up display into a strong start against a Sri Lanka side well-versed in exploiting home conditions.

The final word

This was an ideal outing for India, blending a dominant batting display with the reassurance of key players coming through unscathed. Devdutt Padikkal's century, the returns of Jadeja and Gill, and Siraj's explosive finish all offered plenty of encouragement. After weeks dominated by injury headlines, this clinical warm-up victory was exactly the tonic India needed as they prepare to launch their WTC campaign in Galle.