India batting coach praises warm-up match over extra net sessions

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the three-day warm-up match in Colombo was more productive than additional net sessions would have been. All available players batted and bowlers delivered between 18 and 20 overs each during the fixture, which India won by six wickets. Mohammed Siraj hit a hat-trick of sixes to seal the result.

Kotak noted that the match gave bowlers the intensity required and allowed everyone to face match situations. India had previously favoured high-intensity training camps over warm-up matches on several overseas tours. The current schedule allowed four days between arrival on August 3 and the first Test on August 15.

The team arrived in Sri Lanka with extra time compared to recent tours. Kotak said the match provided better preparation than four additional days of net practice alone.