India are expected to begin their first Test tour of Sri Lanka in nine years with the opening match of the two-Test series at the Galle International Stadium from August 15 to 19.
The series is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and will mark India’s first Test tour of Sri Lanka since 2017, after Virat Kohli’s side dominated the hosts 3-0.
Notably, the last Test between India and Sri Lanka was held at Galle from 26 to 29 July 2017, with the visitors winning by 304 runs.
Although the venue for the second Test is yet to be officially confirmed, it is slated to start on August 23. The Sinhala Sports Club (SSC) ground in Colombo is the leading candidate to host the tournament.
Although neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nor Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have formally announced the itinerary, the proposed dates remain unchanged, with Galle set to host the series opener.
In addition to the two Tests, there are also talks of adding a three-match T20I series during the tour. BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia recently confirmed that the request for three T20 matches has been received and the final schedule will be announced in due course.
With the Lanka Premier League (LPL) scheduled to end on August 9, holding the T20I series after the Test matches is considered the most practical option.
Sri Lanka Cricket is currently working on the finer details of the tour.
If confirmed, the tour will provide both sides with an important opportunity to strengthen their positions in the World Test Championship rankings and add bilateral cricket to a more hectic international calendar.