Kirsten to lean on India coaching experience as Sri Lanka prepare for India Tests in Galle

Gary Kirsten, Sri Lanka’s head coach, said during a virtual interaction on Thursday that he will draw on his experience of coaching India as he prepares to face India in the two-match Test series that begins at Galle on Saturday. He made the remarks while outlining his approach to the upcoming series against his former side.

Kirsten reflected on his three-year spell as India head coach, calling it ‘‘That was a great three years. There was a lot of skill in the team. What I appreciated was that they accepted me into their space and felt I could add value. That was a real privilege,’’ and recalled the 2011 Cricket World Cup finale as the defining moment of that tenure when Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina carried him on their shoulders after India lifted the trophy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The South African earned widespread praise for his man-management while working with a star-studded Indian side that included Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, and he said he aims to build comparable relationships with the Sri Lankan squad. ‘‘I’ve treated this Sri Lankan opportunity with the same seriousness that I did the Indian team. I built good relationships with the Indian players, and I’m attempting to do the same with the Sri Lankan players,’’ Kirsten said.

The 58-year-old kept his cards close to his chest when asked about India’s perceived vulnerability against spin. ‘‘We would certainly like to bring all the skills into the game, not just spin,’’ Kirsten said.

Allies turned rivals: India head coach Gautam Gambhir and his Sri Lanka counterpart Kirsten go a long way back, and Kirsten voiced support for Gambhir’s record and coaching prospects. ‘‘His record speaks for itself. I really enjoyed working with him when he was a player. He was a very smart cricketer, and I knew he would have success as a coach,’’ Kirsten said.

Watch Sri Lanka vs. India 1st Test Day 1 on August 15, 2026, from 10 a.m. IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD and Sony LIV. Published - August 13, 2026 06:48 pm IST