Team India Arrives In Sri Lanka For Test Series: The Indian cricket team, captained by Shubman Gill, arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, August 4, for the two-match Test series. The Indian team departed from Mumbai on Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL1144 and landed at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport at 3:50 pm Sri Lankan time. The team was welcomed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials.
India will play a three-day practice match against Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) Ground in Colombo from August 7th to 9th before the Test series. Originally scheduled to be a four-day match, Sri Lanka Cricket changed the schedule to three days. SLC stated that the Indian team arrived in Sri Lanka on August 4th and will now prepare for the Test series after the practice match.
Capturing smiles and creating travel memories on the way to Colombo 😁🎞️#TeamIndia have arrived in Sri Lanka 🛬#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/TuRFOW4gIw
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 5, 2026
The team suffered a setback before the series
India has suffered a major setback before the start of the series. Young left-handed batsman Sai Sudarshan has not traveled with the team. His place in the team depended entirely on his fitness, but he has not yet fully recovered. He is currently undergoing rehab at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. According to sources, Sai Sudarshan is likely to miss the first Test, which could be a major blow to Team India. However, he may join the team before the second Test.
Aaqib Nabi’s entry
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has not fully recovered from a left knee injury and has been ruled out of the squad. In his place, 29-year-old fast bowler Aaqib Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir has been included in the Indian senior team for the first time. Aaqib becomes the first cricketer from the Kashmir Valley to be selected in the Indian Test team.
He has taken 104 wickets in the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 wickets in the 2025-26 season, playing a key role in Jammu and Kashmir’s first Ranji Trophy title. He also impressed during the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka, taking six wickets in two first-class matches.
India’s second series in WTC
The first Test between India and Sri Lanka will be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to 19. The second and final Test will be held at the SSC Ground in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
This series will be India’s second in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC). India currently sits fifth in the points table with 48.15 percentage points from nine matches, having won four and lost four. Sri Lanka, with one win, one loss, and two draws, is in sixth place with 41.67 percentage points.
India vs Sri Lanka squad
Indian Test squad: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudarshan (subject to fitness clearance), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnur Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Aaqib Nabi.
Sri Lanka Test squad (probable lineup): Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis. Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama. Prabhath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis. Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha.