It was a very good practice match – Sitanshu Kotak opens up on India’s warm-up game against Sri Lanka

India completed a three-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka in Colombo, securing the bragging rights while also giving enough practice time to almost everyone in the playing 15.

India had several special performances: Devdutt Padikkal smashed a century in the first innings, and Ravindra Jadeja scored a half-century. There were a flurry of impressive cameos, featuring the likes of KL Rahul, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain and Gurnoor Brar.

In the second innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal took charge, registering 61 off just 46 balls after a silver duck in the first innings, while Shubman Gill dispelled injury fears with a commanding 44. Mohammed Siraj commandeered the charge late by smashing 32 off just 15 balls, hammering four sixes in the process.

In a video released by BCCI, India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak opened up on the importance of the game. He highlighted how the game offered a lot more than a regular practice session to the players. He also picked his favourite moments from the game and heaped praise on individuals for conjuring some serious performance.

Shedding light on the game, Kotak said, “I think it was very good and productive. Because if we practice four more days, I don’t think it will be as good as the practice match because bowlers bowled with good intensity. Batters batted well. We actually tried that everyone, even bowlers get to bat and all the bowlers get enough loading what is required. So it’s been very good.”

Picking his favourite moments, Kotak added, “I would say Gurnoor and Siraj hitting sixes, three to four sixes. I think Devdutt batted really well. The way Gurnoor bowled and our fast bowlers put in a lot of effort on the wicket where there was nothing, all the pacers put a lot of effort, I think all in all, it was a very good practice match but for me Devdutt’s innings was also really good.”