Snake grabs spotlight at India women's training before Pakistan game

The Indian women’s cricket team is gearing up for their Women’s World Cup match against Pakistan on Sunday, October 5, and their training at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo took an unexpected twist. On Friday evening, a greyish-brown snake was seen slithering near the drains and stands just as the players transitioned from the center wicket to the nets.

Rather than causing panic, the surprise visitor sparked laughter and intrigue among the cricketers, support staff, and even the media present. The snake, identified as a common rat snake, or "Garandiya" in Sinhalese, is not an uncommon sight in the area. The venue has witnessed similar occurrences in the past, including during Lanka Premier League matches and a Sri Lanka-Bangladesh ODI in July.

“It’s not venomous. It doesn’t bite. It’s a Garandiya, just looking for rats," a ground official was quoted as saying to PTI.