India return to red-ball action with series opener against Sri Lanka in Galle
India is all set to return to red-ball action as they take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series. Galle will host the series opener, marking Indiaโs return to playing a Test in Sri Lanka after a nine-year hiatus.
During Indiaโs last visit to the island for a Test series, they secured a 3-0 win against the hosts. They will be hopeful of recreating that dominance if they are to climb up in the WTC points table. Currently, stationed in the fifth position with a win percentage of 48.15, Shubman Gill and company will be hoping to give it a boost.
Indiaโs last Test came against Afghanistan in June, where they registered their biggest win by an innings in the longest format of the game. However, prior to that defeat against South Africa at home left a serious dent on their aspirations. They will be desperate to flip the narrative in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka will be coming to this clash on the back of a series defeat against West Indies where they lost the first Test while drawing the second. The Lankans would be desperate to make the most of their home conditions to try and probe the Indian strengths. Given the firepower both teams boast, this should be a cracking clash between the two continental neighbours.
Venue Watch:
The track in Galle will see the pacers dictate the early rhythm of the day. The surface would have the initial moisture intact which would make it tough for the batters to ply their trade in the first hour of the day. The seamers can expect the ball to drift for the first 10 over before the batters eventually get their shift in. One can expect the spinners to dictate the tempo in the latter half of the day as the sun beats down on the surface, drying it up.
Match details:
Match: Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test
Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle
Date: 15th August, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM IST
Head-to-head:
Matches played: 46
India: 22
Sri Lanka: 7
Squads:
India:
Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.
Sri Lanka:
Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
