India's captain Shubman Gill suffered a right ring finger injury during practice, prompting KL Rahul to lead the team in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI before the two-Test series.
India's three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI in Colombo faces disruption due to a 90% chance of rain on Friday, potentially affecting preparations for the first Test starting August 15.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir urged his young Test squad to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, emphasizing readiness for spin-friendly conditions as part of the World Test Championship.
India's warm-up cricket match against a Sri Lanka XI, ahead of their two-Test series, has been reduced from four days to three days. The practice game will now be played from August 7 to August 9 at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo, as confirmed by Sri Lanka Cricket.
England faces the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with a high win probability, but the DRC's tactical shift to a back five and strong defensive record, particularly against stronger opponents, suggests a tougher challenge than anticipated. The DRC's ability to frustrate opponents and limit high-quality chances will test England's clinical finishing.
A France XV demonstrated superior depth and skill to secure a comfortable 35-19 victory over England in a non-Test summer warm-up match in Vannes. Despite an early try from England, France's quick handling and strong second-half performance sealed the win.
The Doué brothers, Guéla and Desiré, share a unique bond as they play for opposing teams (Côte d'Ivoire and France) at the World Cup. Their story highlights the growing trend of sibling rivalries in international football, with seven pairs of siblings competing in the tournament.
England Women secured a thrilling five-run victory over India in their final T20 World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff. Nat Sciver-Brunt scored 57 and Amy Jones added 64 as England posted 171-6, before India's Richa Ghosh hit a rapid 68 but was stumped by Linsey Smith.
FIFA World Cup contenders France and Spain suffered unexpected setbacks in their final preparations, with Ivory Coast defeating France 2-1 and Iraq holding Spain to a 1-1 draw in warm-up matches on Thursday.
Spain's Lamine Yamal is progressing well from a hamstring injury and is expected to be fit for their World Cup opener on June 15 against Cape Verde. Coach Luis de la Fuente expressed optimism about the teenage star's recovery, though his participation is not guaranteed.
Australia lost 1-0 to Mexico in a World Cup warm-up match but showed resilience and increasing positivity, with key players like Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington performing well, ahead of their first tournament match against Turkey.
