The India vs Sri Lanka Test Series is set to begin once again, with the two teams preparing for a two-match contest in Sri Lanka. Before the action starts, it is worth looking back at how these two teams have performed against each other in Test series played on Sri Lankan soil.
For Sri Lanka, this series is an opportunity to show that their Test team is moving in the right direction. Beating a strong Indian side at home would send a clear message that Sri Lanka can once again challenge the bigger teams in world cricket.
More importantly, Sri Lanka would want to make their home grounds a fortress. Asian conditions have traditionally been one of their biggest strengths, and if they can consistently beat top teams at home, it could play a major role in their revival in Test cricket.
For India, the challenge is different.
This series is another important test for Shubman Gill as captain. India have not achieved the kind of consistency they would have wanted in Test cricket in recent times.
Gill led India to a 2-2 draw in England, which was a good result considering the conditions. However, the home series defeat against South Africa later raised questions again.
Now, Sri Lanka provides Gill and his team with another opportunity to prove themselves.
There is also the World Test Championship to think about. India need results to strengthen their chances of reaching the WTC final, and winning away from home is always valuable.
So, this could be a fascinating contest between two teams with plenty to prove.
But before the 2026 series begins, let us take a look at every Test series India have played in Sri Lanka and see which team has historically held the upper hand.
🚨 INDIA vs SRI LANKA — TEST BATTLE BEGINS AUGUST 15! 🇮🇳⚔️🇱🇰
Team India are set to lock horns with Sri Lanka on their home soil! 🔥
Before the action begins, let’s rewind the clock and see how every India–Sri Lanka Test series in Sri Lanka has ended! 👀#IndvsSl pic.twitter.com/6a2Dks7b8F
— Tezzbuzz (@Tezzbuzz) August 8, 2026
1985: Sri Lanka Beat India 1-0
India’s first Test series in Sri Lanka came in 1985.
Kapil Dev was leading India, while Duleep Mendis was the Sri Lankan captain. The series consisted of three Test matches and proved to be a historic one for the hosts.
The first Test in Colombo ended in a draw before Sri Lanka produced the decisive result in the second Test at the P Sara Oval.
Sri Lanka defeated India by 149 runs to take a 1-0 lead. The third Test in Kandy ended in another draw, giving Sri Lanka the series 1-0.
Duleep Mendis led from the front with the bat, scoring 310 runs in the series. However, the biggest difference came from Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
Rumesh Ratnayake finished with 20 wickets, while Saliya Ahangama picked up 18. For India, Chetan Sharma was their leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets.
It was a memorable series for Sri Lanka as they registered their first Test series victory over India.
Series Result: Sri Lanka won 1-0
India Captain: Kapil Dev
Sri Lanka Captain: Duleep Mendis
1993: India Hit Back Under Mohammad Azharuddin
Eight years later, India returned to Sri Lanka under Mohammad Azharuddin.
This time, Arjuna Ranatunga was leading Sri Lanka.
The three-match series started with a draw, but India produced an excellent performance in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
India won that match by 235 runs.
Vinod Kambli scored 125 in the first innings, while Navjot Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar played important roles as India built a huge target for Sri Lanka.
The third Test ended in a draw, which meant India won the series 1-0.
Anil Kumble was India’s leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets, while Vinod Kambli scored 249 runs in the series. Aravinda de Silva was Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer with 266 runs.
This was an important result for Indian cricket because it gave India their first Test series victory on Sri Lankan soil.
Series Result: India won 1-0
India Captain: Mohammad Azharuddin
Sri Lanka Captain: Arjuna Ranatunga
1997: The Series Remembered for Sri Lanka’s 952/6
The 1997 series between India and Sri Lanka did not produce a winner, but it produced one of the most famous scorecards in the history of Test cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar was leading India, while Arjuna Ranatunga was the Sri Lankan captain.
Both Tests were played in Colombo and both ended in draws.
However, the first Test became a part of cricket history.
India declared their first innings at 537/8, with centuries from Navjot Sidhu, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin.
Sri Lanka’s response was extraordinary.
They reached 952/6 declared, which remains the highest team total in the history of Test cricket.
Sanath Jayasuriya scored a massive 340, while Roshan Mahanama made 225. The pair added 576 runs for the second wicket, which was then the highest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket.
Jayasuriya completely dominated the series and finished with 571 runs in just two Tests.
The second Test also ended in a draw, meaning neither team could take the series.
Series Result: Drawn 0-0
India Captain: Sachin Tendulkar
Sri Lanka Captain: Arjuna Ranatunga
2001: Muralitharan Leads Sri Lanka to 2-1 Victory
The rivalry returned to Sri Lanka in 2001.
Sourav Ganguly was leading India, while Sanath Jayasuriya captained Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka won the first Test, but India responded strongly in Kandy.
The second Test was a good example of India’s fighting ability under Ganguly. India chased 264 to win by seven wickets, with Rahul Dravid scoring 75 and Ganguly remaining unbeaten on 98.
That victory levelled the series at 1-1.
However, Sri Lanka completely dominated the deciding Test at the SSC in Colombo.
After India made 234, Sri Lanka piled up 610/6 declared. They eventually defeated India by an innings and 77 runs to seal the series 2-1.
Muttiah Muralitharan was the biggest difference between the two teams. The legendary off-spinner took 23 wickets in three Tests and was named Player of the Series.
Mahela Jayawardene was Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer with 296 runs, while Rahul Dravid scored 235 for India.
Series Result: Sri Lanka won 2-1
India Captain: Sourav Ganguly
Sri Lanka Captain: Sanath Jayasuriya
2008: Ajantha Mendis Leaves India Struggling
The 2008 Test series is another one Indian fans may not remember too fondly.
Anil Kumble was India’s captain, while Mahela Jayawardene led Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka started the series by completely dominating India in the first Test at the SSC, winning by an innings and 239 runs.
India responded in the second Test at Galle.
Virender Sehwag produced one of his finest Test innings, scoring an unbeaten 201 as wickets continued to fall around him. India eventually won the Test by 170 runs and levelled the series.
However, Sri Lanka won the deciding Test at the P Sara Oval by eight wickets to take the series 2-1.
The biggest story of that series was Ajantha Mendis.
India’s experienced batting line-up struggled to read the mystery spinner, who finished the three-match series with 26 wickets. Muttiah Muralitharan also took 21 wickets, making the Sri Lankan spin attack extremely difficult to handle.
Sehwag was India’s leading run-scorer with 344 runs, but Sri Lanka were simply better over the three Tests.
Series Result: Sri Lanka won 2-1
India Captain: Anil Kumble
Sri Lanka Captain: Mahela Jayawardene
2010: Dhoni’s India Fight Back to Draw the Series
India returned to Sri Lanka in 2010, this time under MS Dhoni.
Kumar Sangakkara was leading Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka won the opening Test in Galle, putting India under immediate pressure.
The second Test ended in a draw, meaning India entered the third and final Test needing a victory to avoid a series defeat.
They managed to do exactly that.
India chased 257 in the fourth innings at the P Sara Oval to win the third Test by five wickets and level the series 1-1.
VVS Laxman played a brilliant match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 103 in the chase, while Sachin Tendulkar contributed 54.
Tendulkar scored 390 runs across the series, but Sangakkara went even better for Sri Lanka with 467.
Virender Sehwag was named Player of the Series after another impressive tour.
Series Result: Drawn 1-1
India Captain: MS Dhoni
Sri Lanka Captain: Kumar Sangakkara
2015: Virat Kohli’s India Complete a Brilliant Comeback
The 2015 Test series was an important chapter in India’s modern Test history.
It was Virat Kohli’s first full Test series as captain, while Angelo Mathews was leading Sri Lanka.
India started the series with a painful defeat in Galle.
Despite dominating large parts of the match, India failed to chase 176 in the fourth innings and lost by 63 runs.
At that point, India were 0-1 down.
What followed was a strong comeback.
India won the second Test at the P Sara Oval by 278 runs to level the series. They then won the third Test at the SSC by 117 runs to complete a 2-1 series victory.
Ravichandran Ashwin played a major role in India’s success, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 21 wickets. Amit Mishra also contributed 15 wickets.
Angelo Mathews was the highest run-scorer of the series with 339 runs, while Virat Kohli led India’s batting with 233 runs.
The victory was significant because India had lost the opening Test but still found a way to win the series.
Series Result: India won 2-1
India Captain: Virat Kohli
Sri Lanka Captain: Angelo Mathews
2017: India Complete Historic 3-0 Whitewash
If 2015 was about India’s comeback, 2017 was about complete domination.
Virat Kohli was again India’s captain, while Dinesh Chandimal was Sri Lanka’s Test captain. Chandimal missed the opening Test due to illness, with Rangana Herath leading Sri Lanka in Galle.
India won the first Test by 304 runs.
They were even more dominant in the second Test at the SSC, winning by an innings and 53 runs.
By the time the teams reached Pallekele for the third Test, India had already won the series.
But they did not stop there.
India won the final Test by an innings and 171 runs to complete a 3-0 whitewash.
It was India’s first clean sweep away from home in a Test series consisting of three or more matches.
Shikhar Dhawan was the leading run-scorer for India with 358 runs and was named Player of the Series.
Ravichandran Ashwin led India’s wicket-taking charts with 17 wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami were also important parts of a highly effective bowling attack.
It remains India’s most dominant Test series performance in Sri Lanka.
Series Result: India won 3-0
India Captain: Virat Kohli
Sri Lanka Captain: Dinesh Chandimal
India vs Sri Lanka Test Series Record in Sri Lanka Before 2026
Before the 2026 series, India and Sri Lanka had played eight Test series against each other on Sri Lankan soil.
- 1985: Sri Lanka won 1-0
- 1993: India won 1-0
- 1997: Drawn 0-0
- 2001: Sri Lanka won 2-1
- 2008: Sri Lanka won 2-1
- 2010: Drawn 1-1
- 2015: India won 2-1
- 2017: India won 3-0
The overall series record tells an interesting story.
Sri Lanka have won three Test series at home against India, while India have also won three. Two series have ended in draws.
So, in terms of Test series victories in Sri Lanka, there is absolutely nothing separating the two teams heading into 2026.
Sri Lanka: 3 series wins
India: 3 series wins
Drawn: 2 series
2026 India vs Sri Lanka Test Series Could Break the Deadlock
And now we come to 2026.
For the first time since India’s dominant 3-0 victory in 2017, the two teams are meeting in a Test series in Sri Lanka.
A lot has changed since then.
India now have Shubman Gill leading the Test side, while this series carries huge importance in the World Test Championship race.
For Gill, this is an important captaincy test.
India managed to draw the series 2-2 in England under his captaincy, but the home defeat against South Africa was a major setback. A series victory in Sri Lanka could therefore be important not only for India’s WTC campaign but also for Gill’s journey as Test captain.
For Sri Lanka, the opportunity is equally big.
They are playing at home, in conditions they understand better than anyone else. If they can defeat India, it would be a strong statement about where this Sri Lankan Test team is heading.
History also makes this contest even more interesting.
After eight Test series in Sri Lanka, both teams have won three each, while two have been drawn.
So, the India vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2026 has the chance to break that deadlock.
Will Sri Lanka once again turn their home grounds into a fortress and show that their Test revival is real?
Or will Shubman Gill’s India continue what Virat Kohli’s teams achieved in 2015 and 2017 and register another Test series victory on Sri Lankan soil?
That is what makes this two-match series so interesting.