India. led by Shubman Gill, began their preparations with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka Cricket XI in a three-day warm-up game at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo on August 9. Chasing 207 runs, Mohammed Siraj sealed the victory in the final over on the third day with three consecutive sixes.
India have played eight bilateral Test series in Sri Lanka, winning three, losing three, and drawing two. However, the team has not lost a Test series there since 2008. The Men in Blue will now look to extend that unbeaten run in the upcoming two-match series, which is set to begin on August 15 in Galle.
India vs Sri Lanka Test Series: Sri Lanka's Dominance in Early Years
India and Sri Lanka played their first Test series in 1985, with Sri Lanka securing a 1-0 win. The hosts drew the first Test in Colombo before winning their maiden Test match by 149 runs at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Amal Silva scored 111, while Rumesh Ratnayake took nine wickets.
India recorded their first Test series win in Sri Lanka in 1993 under Mohammad Azharuddin. Navjot Singh Sidhu scored 104, Sachin Tendulkar made 104, and Anil Kumble took five wickets as India won the second Test by 235 runs. The visitors secured the series 1-0 after drawing the other two Tests.
(IND v SL Test Series Starts from Next Week)
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) August 8, 2026
India in SL Test Series
1985 - Srilanka Won (1-0)
1993 - India Won (1-0)
1997 - Drawn (0-0)
2001 - Srilanka Won (2-1)
2008 - Srilanka Won (2-1)
2010 - Drawn (1-1)
2015 - India Won (2-1)
2017 - India Won (3-0)#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/Mvejhyb1Aj
In 1997, India declared at 537/8 in Colombo, but Sri Lanka responded with 952/6 declared, then the highest team total in Test cricket. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340, and Roshan Mahanama made 225. Both Tests ended in draws.
Sri Lanka won both series 2-1 in 2001 and 2008. Muttiah Muralidaran took 11 wickets in the 2001 decider, while Ajantha Mendis made a huge impact in 2008 with 26 wickets. Virender Sehwag's unbeaten 201 in Galle helped India level the 2008 series before Sri Lanka won the decider.
India Fight Back as Test Rivals Share Memorable Series
Muttiah Muralidaran's final Test series ended 1-1 in 2010. He claimed his 800th Test wicket by dismissing Pragyan Ojha in Galle as Sri Lanka won the opening Test by 10 wickets.
The second Test in Colombo produced another run-fest. Kumar Sangakkara scored 219, while Sachin Tendulkar responded with 203 to help India secure a draw. In the third Test, VVS Laxman scored an unbeaten 103 as India chased 257 at the P Sara Oval to level the series.
In 2015, Virat Kohli's side recovered from a first-Test defeat to win the series 2-1. Rangana Herath's seven-wicket haul helped Sri Lanka win in Galle, but India responded with victories in Colombo and at the SSC.
Virat Kohli's India Establish Away Dominance
India produced their most dominant Test series in Sri Lanka in 2017, completing a 3-0 whitewash. Shikhar Dhawan scored 190, and Cheteshwar Pujara made 153 in Galle as India won the opening Test by 304 runs.
Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane then scored centuries in Colombo, helping India secure an innings-and-53-run victory. In the final Test at Pallekele, Hardik Pandya smashed his maiden Test century, scoring 108 off 96 balls, while Kuldeep Yadav took five wickets to complete the clean sweep.
India have since remained unbeaten in a Test series in Sri Lanka. They will begin the next series in Galle on August 15, aiming to extend their unbeaten run on the island since the 2008 series loss.
Also read: Shubman Gill injury update: India coach confirms Test availability
