Galle: India A off to steady start against Sri Lanka A in first unofficial Test

By Arjun Nair / 25.06.2026

By Arjun Nair — 25 June 2026 — 4 min read

India A commenced their first unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A in Galle with a steady start, reaching 31 without loss after 10 overs on the opening morning. Openers Sai Sudharsan and Ayush Pandey navigated a disciplined new-ball attack, frustrating the hosts after captain Dhruv Jurel won the toss and elected to bat first.

The initial three overs of the innings yielded no runs, highlighting the challenging conditions and tight bowling from Sri Lanka A’s Dulaj Samuditha and Kavindu Pathiratne. Samuditha bowled a maiden-filled spell, conceding only five runs from three overs, while Pathiratne gave away just four runs from his two overs, despite bowling two no-balls.

After a cautious start where runs were difficult to come by, Sudharsan broke the scoring drought with a three-run shot off Samuditha in the fifth over, followed by a single. Pandey also got off the mark with a single later in the same over. By the end of five overs, Sudharsan was unbeaten on 5 runs from 17 balls, and Pandey was on 2 runs from 15 deliveries, as India A focused on seeing off the new ball.

Sudharsan was the first to find the boundary, hitting one off Pathiratne in the sixth over. Pandey followed suit in the next over, striking back-to-back fours off Samuditha, which helped shift the momentum. These boundaries allowed India A to move from a cautious phase to a more comfortable position without taking unnecessary risks.

Sri Lanka A introduced Chamika Gunasekara into the attack in the ninth over. Sudharsan greeted him with a boundary and then added a single, keeping the scoreboard moving. At the 10-over mark, Sudharsan was 16 not out from 34 balls, while Pandey had compiled 11 runs from 29 deliveries, contributing to India A’s total of 31 for no loss.

Opportunity for Players to Impress

This two-match unofficial Test series in Sri Lanka offers a significant platform for several emerging Indian cricketers to demonstrate their capabilities in red-ball cricket. The series is seen as an important step for players aiming to secure spots in India’s senior national squad.

Captain Dhruv Jurel leads the India A side, which includes players like Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the batting lineup. These players are looking to bolster their credentials for top-order berths. Fast bowlers Auqib Nabi Dar, Anshul Kamboj, and Yash Thakur are set to lead the pace attack.

Aquib Nabi, in particular, will be eager to make a strong statement. His performance, including 60 wickets during Jammu & Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy triumph, was noted, and strong displays in Sri Lanka could strengthen his case for national selection, especially with India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, where seam-friendly conditions might suit his bowling style.

Anshul Kamboj, who had a challenging Test debut in England last year, will also be hoping for a strong performance to revive his red-ball prospects. Harsh Dubey, a recent ODI debutant, is also part of the squad, along with Gurnoor Brar, who recently impressed on his ODI debut against Afghanistan.

For batters like Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, the series provides a crucial opportunity to spend time at the crease and regain momentum. Sudharsan remains in contention for a place in the Test XI and will be looking to strengthen his credentials with substantial scores. Padikkal, who did not feature in the Afghanistan Test, is competing for a spot in the batting order.

Squads and Schedule

The India A squad for the multi-day matches in Sri Lanka includes Dhruv Jurel (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, N Jagadeesan (Wicketkeeper), Aman Mokhade, Shaik Rasheed, and Zeeshan Ansari.

Sri Lanka A, led by Sahan Arachchige, features players such as experienced wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella, Pawantha Weerasinghe, Nuwanidu Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Ravindu Fernando, Anjala Bandara, Kavindu Pathiratne, Dulaj Samuditha, Chamika Gunasekara, and Dilum Sudeera.

The first unofficial Test is scheduled from June 25-28, 2026, at the Galle International Stadium. The second unofficial Test will also be held at the same venue from July 2-5, 2026.

The series follows the limited-overs leg of the tour and is expected to provide a valuable learning experience, especially with conditions in Sri Lanka traditionally rewarding spin, patience, and discipline. The matches will serve as a meaningful gauge of the squad’s readiness for higher levels of competition.

The match began on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Galle International Stadium.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com