India are set to take on Sri Lanka in the opening Test of the high-stakes two-match series, beginning on Saturday in Galle. The road to the World Test Championship final is becoming tougher for India with each passing day as they desperately look to stamp their authority on the Lankan soil. Both teams heading into the series know very well that every point would be crucial for them to create a difference in their chances of making it to the WTC final.
India currently occupy fifth place in the 2025–27 WTC standings, with Sri Lanka sitting just behind them on the sixth spot. India go into the series on the back of a crushing 2-0 home defeat against South Africa, whereas Sri Lanka will be eager to thrive in home conditions after losing their recent series in West Indies. Moreover, for India, the series is challenging after a difficult period in Test cricket and Shubman Gill's team has little room for another disappointing result.
The visitors’ squad is stacked up with promising performers in KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. On the other hand, Sri Lanka are also having the likes of Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, and Prabath Jayasuriya. They will miss the services of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, who have been ruled out of the opening match.
Head-to-head
Matches - 46
Sri Lanka won - 7
India won - 22
Tied - 17
India likely XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Saransh Jain, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar.
Sri Lanka likely XI: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kamindu Mendis, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando.