The India vs Sri Lanka Test Match Series 2026 contest between the two sides, forming part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with both Tests being played in Sri Lanka in August 2026.
Galle International Stadium & Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo · 15 August – 27 August 2026
The India vs Sri Lanka Test Match Series 2026 runs from 15 to 27 August, with the 1st Test at Galle International Stadium from 15-19 August and the 2nd and final Test at the historic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from 23-27 August. Shubman Gill leads the Indian Test squad, with KL Rahul as vice-captain, under head coach Gautam Gambhir. The series is part of the ongoing WTC 2025-27 cycle, where India currently sit fifth in the standings and Sri Lanka sixth. Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the series due to injury, with Auqib Nabi added as his replacement. India continued to assess their bowling combination ahead of the opening Test.
India vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2026
India’s preparations for the Test series have begun in Colombo with a warm-up fixture against Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the NCC Ground from 7-9 August. The practice match is being used to assess player combinations and help the squad adapt to Sri Lankan conditions before the first Test in Galle.
The Indian camp has also faced injury concerns ahead of the series, with Jasprit Bumrah ruled out and Auqib Nabi added as his replacement. India will continue to assess their bowling combination and finalise their playing XI ahead of the opening Test.
India vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2026 at a Glance
India’s tour of Sri Lanka began with preparation in Colombo, where the squad trained at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) ground before playing a warm-up fixture at the same venue from 7-9 August. From there, the team travels to Galle for the series opener, before the two sides close out the contest at the SSC ground in Colombo. Both Test matches are scheduled to start at 10:00 am IST each day.
Every match in the ongoing India vs Sri Lanka Test Match Series 2026 carries WTC points, giving both teams a chance to strengthen their push toward the World Test Championship final. India have not lost a Test series to Sri Lanka since 2015 and head into this contest as strong favourites on paper, though a young batting unit facing Sri Lankan conditions for the first time adds an element of uncertainty.
- Format: Test Match (2-match series)
- 1st Test: Galle International Stadium
- 2nd Test: Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo
- Series dates: 15 – 27 August 2026
- India captain: Shubman Gill (KL Rahul, vice-captain)
- India head coach: Gautam Gambhir
- Tournament context: ICC World Test Championship 2025-27
India and Sri Lanka players in action during a Test match ahead of the 2026 series.
Why This Series Matters
India and Sri Lanka last met in Test cricket back in 2022, when India won a two-match series played on home soil. Since then, both teams have gone through visible transitions – India under a new-look Test leadership group led by Shubman Gill, and Sri Lanka rebuilding after a mixed run in the current WTC cycle. With India placed fifth and Sri Lanka sixth in the WTC 2025-27 table heading into the series, both sides have real incentive to pick up points.
The build-up has not been without setbacks for India. Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out through injury and replaced by uncapped seamer Auqib Nabi, while Washington Sundar will miss the series opener in Galle. On a positive note, the touring party includes off-spinning all-rounder Saransh Jain, who earns a maiden India call-up after a strong domestic season.
India vs Sri Lanka Test Match Series 2026: Key Dates
- Warm-up Match: 7 – 9 August 2026 — NCC Ground, Colombo
- 1st Test: 15 – 19 August 2026 — Galle International Stadium
- 2nd Test: 23 – 27 August 2026 — Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
Shubman Gill and Dhananjaya de Silva will lead India and Sri Lanka in the 2026 Test series.
India’s Squad for the Test Series
India’s Test squad for the series blends experience with a clutch of newer faces adjusting to sub-continental conditions. The touring party is led by Shubman Gill, with KL Rahul as his deputy.
India Test Squad
- Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal
- Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi
- Saransh Jain – maiden call-up, aged 33
Notable Absences
- Jasprit Bumrah – ruled out through injury
- Washington Sundar – unavailable for the 1st Test
- Harshit Rana & Nitish Kumar Reddy – also missing the series
Sri Lanka’s final XI is expected to be confirmed closer to the series opener – worth a final check nearer 15 August for the hosts’ line-up.
How to Follow the India vs Sri Lanka Test Match Series 2026
In India, the two Tests are set to be televised on the Star Sports Network, with live streaming available via JioStar’s digital platform. Fans outside India should check their regional broadcaster or Sri Lanka Cricket’s official channels closer to the series, as coverage varies by market. Match timings for both Tests are set at 10:00 am IST for the first session.
Two Tests, One WTC Cycle, A Young India Side Under Scrutiny
The India vs Sri Lanka Test Match Series 2026 opens in Galle on 15 August and wraps up at Colombo’s SSC ground on 27 August, with both teams chasing crucial World Test Championship points and India fielding a squad reshaped by injuries and fresh selections ahead of the contest.
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