India unhappy with grass on warm-up pitch, Sri Lanka official says

India's squad, led by captain Shubman Gill and coached by Gautam Gambhir, is preparing for a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI at NCC Ground, Colombo, starting Friday, August 7, 2026. The practice fixture serves as an essential acclimatisation opportunity for the visitors as they transition to sub-continental conditions before the two-match Test series. The warm-up match was reduced to three days instead of the originally scheduled four-day fixture, with the first Test scheduled to begin at Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to 19, followed by the second Test at SSC, Colombo, from August 23 to 27.

Indian team management was reportedly unhappy with the amount of grass left on the wicket for the practice match. NCC official A. Francke has now responded to these concerns, explaining the reasoning behind the pitch preparation and the conditions the ground has provided for the warm-up fixture.

"The Indian team said that there is too much grass on the wicket, but that is how we keep it because it is a three-day game. You can't give a wicket without grass. Other than that, they were happy with it. The wicket we have given is a good wicket, so I can't tell whether it will favor any team. It depends on how they play," Francke told Revsportz.

Why NCC kept grass on the wicket

Francke clarified that the grass on the wicket was not an arbitrary decision but a deliberate choice made in consultation with Sri Lanka cricket authorities. The NCC Ground has a reputation for preparing batting-friendly surfaces, but the official expressed confidence that the pitch would provide a fair contest between bat and ball.

"The tinge of grass has been requested by Sri Lanka cricket, so we will keep it like that. Maybe conditions will change, but normally NCC wickets are good batting tracks. We are hoping that there will be high scores here. But the Indian batters can have good practice here before they go to Galle," Francke said.

How the pitch is expected to behave

Francke also offered his assessment of how the pitch might evolve during the three-day match and provided tactical advice for the team winning the toss. The NCC official emphasised the ground's commitment to preparing equitable playing surfaces that do not inherently favour either side.

"Our wicket may help the spinners on the second day or third day. But I will suggest anybody who wins the toss here to bat first. We always prepare good and fair wickets," Francke said.