India and Sri Lanka to open two-Test series at Galle from August 15-19, 2026
India and Sri Lanka will meet in the first Test of their two-match series at Galle International Stadium from August 15-19, 2026, with play scheduled to start at 10 AM IST on the opening day.
This fixture is the first Test India will play in Sri Lanka since 2017 and begins Saturday; India arrive with injuries to Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Sri Lanka will be without Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Both sides are set to use secondary-choice players, India have had a wobbly campaign in the ongoing ICC WTC 2025-27 and will look to get a win, and Sri Lanka will be keen to use their home conditions and put the visitors under pressure.
The two teams have met in 46 Tests: India have won 22, Sri Lanka seven, and 17 matches have been drawn. These head-to-head figures are cited ahead of the opening match in Galle.
The forecast for the match period shows rain, with a prediction of a thundershower on the first four days, temperatures around 29-30°C and an average humidity index of 70-80 percent. Galle International Stadium typically offers a good batting track for the first two days before the wicket starts to deteriorate and the bounce becomes uneven; spinners are expected to play a key role in the final three days, and rain is expected to give pacers some assistance. The record at this venue indicates that batting last is very tough.
Sri Lanka’s selected XI is Nishan Madushka, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando. India’s XI is KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Suggested Dream11 combinations and player groups provided include: Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Chandimal; Batters: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal; All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis; Bowlers: Prabhat Jayasuriya, Kuldeep Yadav; Captain First-Choice: Shubman Gill || Captain Second-Choice: Ramesh Mendis; Vice-Captain First-Choice: Dhananjaya de Silva || Vice-captain Second-Choice: Kuldeep Yadav. A secondary set of recommendations lists Batters: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal; All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Remesh Mendis; Bowlers: Prabhat Jayasuriya, Kuldeep Yadav, Lahiru Kumara; Captain First-Choice: Ravindra Jadeja || Captain Second-Choice: Yashasvi Jaiswal; Vice-Captain First-Choice: Kamindu Mendis || Vice-captain Second-Choice: KL Rahul.
Mendis and Nissanka have scored most runs for Sri Lanka since 2025 and they are unavailable for this game; hence, we back India to win the first Test in Galle.
The first Test of the Sri Lanka vs India Test series 2026 will take place between August 15-19, 2026 (Saturday-Wednesday) at Galle International Stadium in Galle.