Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially announced the schedule for India’s long-awaited Test tour of Sri Lanka. The two teams will play a two-match Test series, which begins on August 15. India will return to Sri Lanka for a Test series for the first time since 2017, ending an eight-year wait. The series will also mark India’s first World Test Championship (WTC) assignment since November 2025.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided not to include T20Is despite an earlier proposal from Sri Lanka Cricket to expand the tour.
India vs Sri Lanka Test series schedule confirmed
The two-Test series will begin at the Galle International Cricket Stadium before moving to Colombo for the second and final match.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | August 15-19 | Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle |
| 2nd Test | August 23-27 | Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Cricket Ground, Colombo |
The series will renew one of Asian cricket’s oldest rivalries in the longest format. India and Sri Lanka last met in a Test series in 2022, while India’s previous Test tour of Sri Lanka came nine years ago in 2017.
Ahead of the senior team’s arrival, India A are already in Sri Lanka for a two-match first-class series against Sri Lanka A in Galle. The visitors won the opening match convincingly, while the second game is currently underway. The tour has given several young players valuable experience in local conditions before the senior side begins its campaign next month.
READ MORE: Varun Chakravarthy to Chris Jordan: Five Bowlers who took Most Wickets in India vs England T20Is
India’s Sri Lanka Tour Confirmed With Two Tests, BCCI Rejects T20I Series Proposal
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka Cricket requested the addition of three T20Is to the existing Test tour. The BCCI initially accepted the proposal as a goodwill gesture, as extra matches could help raise funds for people affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread damage across several parts of Sri Lanka. However, the plan will no longer go ahead.
According to reports, the BCCI has informed SLC that India’s packed international calendar leaves no room for additional white-ball fixtures.
The Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 season is scheduled to conclude on August 9, leaving only a few days before the first Test starts on August 15. Organizing a three-match T20I series within that short window would not be practical for either board.
Playing the T20Is after the Test series has also been ruled out because of India’s busy schedule in September.
ALSO READ: India Tour of England: Full Schedule, Squads, Venues, Timings, Streaming, and Telecast Details
India’s packed calendar leaves little flexibility
India are expected to travel to Bangladesh shortly after the Sri Lanka series, although that tour is yet to receive official confirmation. They are also scheduled to host Afghanistan in a limited-overs series later in September.
With multiple international commitments already lined up, finding space for three additional T20Is has become almost impossible. The BCCI has decided to stick to the original two-Test itinerary rather than overloading the schedule.
The focus will remain firmly on red-ball cricket. The upcoming series offers India an opportunity to resume their World Test Championship campaign after a lengthy break. Sri Lanka will look to make home conditions count against one of the strongest Test sides in the world.
Both teams are eager to start the new WTC cycle on a positive note. The inaugural ICC World Test Championship (2019–2021) ended with New Zealand defeating India by eight wickets in the final at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, England. The teams played the title clash from June 18 to June 23, 2021. New Zealand lifted the first-ever WTC trophy.
The second ICC World Test Championship (2021–2023) concluded at The Oval in London in June 2023. Australia beat India by 209 runs to claim their maiden WTC title. With that victory, Australia became the first team to win every major ICC trophy.
