The India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 begins with a two-Test series from August 15 to 27. India enter the series in strong form after winning their warm-up match.
The first Test will take place at Galle International Stadium. From there, both teams will move to Colombo for the second Test at Sinhalese Sports Club.
This article covers the complete schedule, squads, venues, Test details, and live coverage for the series.
India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Schedule
The first Test of the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 begins in Galle on August 15 and runs until August 19. The second Test starts in Colombo on August 23 and concludes on August 27.
Here is the complete India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Test schedule:
| Day & Date | Match | Time [IST/GMT/Local] | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, August 15 | 1st Test | 10:00 AM / 4:30 AM / 10:00 AM | Galle International Stadium, Galle |
| Sunday, August 23 | 2nd Test | 10:00 AM / 4:30 AM / 10:00 AM | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Squads
India and Sri Lanka have named their top squads for the two-Test series. Both teams have included a mix of experienced players and younger options across their respective groups.
![Captains: Dhananjaya de Silva [Sri Lanka] and Shubman Gill [India] for the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026](https://sportschronicle.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/image-6-1024x576.png "Captains: Dhananjaya de Silva [Sri Lanka] and Shubman Gill [India] for the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026")
Here are the confirmed squads for the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026:
Sri Lanka Squad
Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dhananjaya de Silva (Captain), Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Keshara Nuwantha, Sonal Dinusha, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (Keeper), Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
India Squad
Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi.
India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Venues
The India Tour of Sri Lanka will take place at two established cricket venues in Sri Lanka. Each ground brings its own setting, conditions and history.
Here are some key venue details to know:
Galle International Cricket Stadium
The first Test of the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 will be played at Galle International Cricket Stadium. The venue sits on Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast, between the Indian Ocean and Galle Fort.
Galle can accommodate approximately 17,000 to 18,000 spectators. Its coastal breeze, palm-lined outfield and Fort walls create a relaxed, tropical setting for Test cricket.
The pitch usually favors batters during the first two days before assisting spinners from Day 3. Also, the pitch is widely famous as a spinner’s paradise.
SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo
The second Test of the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 will be played at SSC Cricket Ground. The venue sits at Maitland Place in Colombo and also serves as Sri Lanka Cricket’s headquarters.
SSC can accommodate approximately 10,000 spectators. Traditional pavilions and tree-shaded grassy banks give the ground a strong club-cricket character.
SSC traditionally starts as a high-scoring venue, with its flat surface giving batters a strong advantage early in the Test.
However, fast bowlers can find some movement with the new ball during the opening session. The surface then flattens further through Days 1 to 3, while spinners gradually come into play as footmarks develop on Days 4 and 5.
India vs Sri Lanka Test Head-to-Head Record
India and Sri Lanka have faced each other 46 times in Test cricket, with India holding the stronger overall record. The two sides first met in Tests in 1982, with the rivalry producing 17 draws.
India have won 22 Tests against Sri Lanka, while Sri Lanka have recorded seven victories. With the series now set for two more Tests, their head-to-head record adds another layer to the contest.
Here is the head-to-head test Record of India vs Sri Lanka:
| Category | India | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Span | 1982–2022 | 1982–2022 |
| Tests | 46 | 46 |
| Wins | 22 | 7 |
| Losses | 7 | 22 |
| Draws | 17 | 17 |
| Win % | 47.82% | 15.21% |
Key Players to Watch In The India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026
The India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 brings several players who could shape the two-Test series. Both teams have proven match-winners across batting, bowling and all-round departments.
India will rely on their top-order strength and all-round balance. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have home conditions and quality spin options on their side.
Here are the key players to watch during the tour:
| Player Name | Country | Role | Key Reasons to Watch | Top Stats in Test Cricket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 🇮🇳 India | Top-Order Batter / Captain | Gill will lead India in subcontinental conditions and anchor the batting with strong conversion rates. | 2,969 runs in 41 matches Average: 44.31 SR: 61.85 100s: 11 HS: 269 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Left-Hand Middle-Order Batter | Mendis reached 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings and remains a key home batting option. | 1,453 runs in 16 matches Average: 58.12 100s: 5 50s: 6 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 🇮🇳 India | Left-Hand Opening Batter | Jaiswal can put immediate pressure on Sri Lanka with his aggressive approach against spin. | 2,523 runs in 29 matches Average: 48.75 100s: 7 50s: 13 HS: 214* |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Slow Left-Arm Orthodox Bowler | Jayasuriya will be a major spin threat, especially on turning surfaces like Galle. | 125 wickets in 23 matches BBI: 7/52 5W hauls: 12 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 🇮🇳 India | All-Rounder | Jadeja adds balance through his batting and bowling, while offering control across long Test spells. | Batting: 4,095 runs Average: 38.27 SR: 55.42 100s: 6 50s: 28 Bowling: 348 wickets BBI: 7/42 |
How to Watch India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Live in India?
You can watch the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 live on Sony Sports Network on TV. For online viewing, SonyLIV will stream the matches through its app and website.
Free-to-air coverage will also be available on DD Sports through the terrestrial network and DD Free Dish.
Here is where you can watch the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 globally:
| Region | Broadcast / Streaming Platform |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Dialog TV, SLT-MOBITEL PEOTV, Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV and associated digital platforms |
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports |
| Other International Regions | Local rights holders, including Cricbuzz in parts of Europe and the Middle East, and SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa |
India vs Sri Lanka Warm-Up Match Highlights
India’s batters displayed a strong performance during the warm-up match, giving them confidence ahead of the Test series. They chased Sri Lanka Cricket XI’s target of 207 with 214/4 in 45 overs to win by six wickets.
Earlier, Sri Lanka Cricket XI declared on 363/8 and 200/6, while India posted 357/6 declared in their first innings.
Devdutt Padikkal led India’s batting with an unbeaten 142 at No. 3, hitting 18 boundaries. He shared a 96-run partnership with KL Rahul, who scored 40, while Yashasvi Jaiswal added 61 from 46 balls before retiring hurt during the chase.
Shubman Gill also returned after missing two days following a right ring finger injury scare and scored 44 from 54 balls.
India then produced a dramatic finish when they needed 23 runs from the final two overs.
Mohammed Siraj smashed an unbeaten 32 from 15 balls, including a six off Sonal Dinusha and three consecutive sixes against Keshara Nuwantha in the final over. His late assault completed India’s six-wicket victory.
Ravindra Jadeja also contributed 63 in India’s first innings and took two wickets alongside Gurnoor Brar, who also claimed two. For Sri Lanka Cricket XI, Nishan Madushka scored 63 and Nipun Dhananjaya added 46 in the second innings.
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Conclusion
India head into the two-Test series with plenty of positives after their six-wicket warm-up win. The performances from Padikkal, Jaiswal, Gill and Siraj have added confidence before the first Test.
Sri Lanka will now look to make better use of their home conditions across Galle and Colombo. With spin expected to influence the series, both teams will need to adapt quickly.
Don’t miss the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 as India and Sri Lanka battle across two Tests. Watch the series live and enjoy all the action.
