India vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2026: Squad, schedule, venues, when and where to watch live streaming

After a gap of nine years, Indian and Sri Lankan fans will witness a proper red-ball tour of Sri Lanka next month. The two-match Test series, part of the ongoing World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, kicks off on August 15 with both teams desperate to patch up bruised WTC standings after rough patches in their last outings. For India, there's an added incentive: a five-match winning streak on Sri Lankan soil and an unbeaten run in bilateral series there stretching all the way back to 2008. Sri Lanka, playing at home and traditionally tough to beat on their own turf, will fancy their chances of finally ending that streak.

Here's everything you need to know before a ball is bowled.

India vs Sri Lanka Test Series Full Schedule

Match	Dates	Venue
Practice Match (4-day)	Starts August 7	Colombo
1st Test	August 15–19	Galle International Stadium, Galle
2nd Test	August 23–27	Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo

Both Tests will start at the traditional 10 am local time. Interestingly, the SSC ground recently had floodlights installed, sparking talk of a possible day-night finish, but that idea has been shelved for now, this series will be played the old-fashioned way, under natural light throughout.

Also Read: Who is Saransh Jain?

Before the series proper, the Indian squad will get some match practice with a four-day warm-up fixture in Colombo starting August 7, giving the batters time in the middle and the bowlers a chance to feel out conditions before the real contest begins.

Ind vs SL Test Series 2026 Squad: India's Squad

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his committee announced a 15-member squad on Tuesday, and the headline is the return of Ravindra Jadeja. The veteran all-rounder had been out of the Test setup after picking up a tennis elbow injury during IPL 2026, and getting him back in a Sri Lankan tour, where his left-arm spin, lower-order batting and fielding tend to be gold, is a genuine boost for team balance.

Full squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain

*(Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah are both included but need fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team before they're confirmed for the opening Test.)

Gill continues as Test captain with Rahul as his deputy, and the squad largely mirrors the group that featured against Afghanistan. A couple of things stand out beyond Jadeja's comeback. Washington Sundar has been left out, at least for the first Test, still recovering from injury, a gap that opens the door for Manav Suthar and newcomer Saransh Jain, who's earned his maiden Test call-up after some eye-catching domestic form. Bumrah's participation remains the biggest talking point of the buildup; he sat out India's series-deciding ODI at Lord's earlier this year with knee swelling, and everyone from fans to pundits will be watching his fitness update closely in the coming days.

Given how Sri Lankan pitches tend to behave, low, slow, and increasingly helpful for spin as a Test wears on, expect India to lean heavily on their spin resources, with Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja and the seam-spin mix from Suthar and Jain all in the frame for selection.

Ind vs SL Test Series 2026 Squad: Who's Likely to Feature in Sri Lanka's Squad

While the BCCI confirmed their 15-man group for the August tour, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is yet to officially name its squad for the two-Test series against India. Confirmation is expected in the coming days, closer to the four-day warm-up game and the August 15 series opener in Galle. Here's where things stand.

Sri Lanka Captaincy and Core Setup

Dhananjaya de Silva continues to lead Sri Lanka's Test side, a role he's held since taking over from Dimuth Karunaratne, with Kamindu Mendis serving as his deputy across formats. Both are expected to anchor the squad for the India series as well.

Sri Lanka's Most Recent Test Squad (West Indies tour, June 2026)

This is the closest guide available to what SLC is likely to pick from, since it reflects their latest Test group before the India assignment:

Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kamindu Mendis (vc), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Kusal Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Isitha Wijesundara, Kasun Rajitha

Why Ind vs SL Test Series 2026 Matters

Both India and Sri Lanka are coming off disappointing stretches. India's WTC points took a hit after a rough home season last year, and a series win in Sri Lanka would go a long way toward repairing their standing in the championship table. Sri Lanka, for their part, need points just as badly and will lean on home conditions, crowd support and a bowling attack built for these pitches to try and end India's near two-decade dominance in this fixture on their own soil.

There's also a symbolic weight to this tour. India haven't played a full Test series in Sri Lanka since 2017, so for a chunk of the current squad, this will be their first taste of Galle's picturesque, fort-side ground or the SSC's historic atmosphere in whites. Conditions here reward patience and skill over raw power, which should make for a genuinely absorbing contest rather than a run-fest.

India vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2026: When and Where to Watch

For fans in India, the good news is there's no need to hunt around, this series will follow the same broadcast setup Indian cricket fans have gotten used to for BCCI's overseas tours. Star Sports will carry the live telecast across its TV network, while JioHotstar remains the go-to digital platform for streaming every session live on your phone, tablet or smart TV. Coverage typically comes with commentary options in English, Hindi and several regional languages, so pick whichever feels most like home.

If you're travelling or simply prefer checking in on the go, ball-by-ball scores, wickets and milestones will also be trackable through the usual live-score platforms and sports apps. As always, official confirmation of exact channel numbers and any last-minute streaming tweaks tends to land closer to the first ball, so keep an eye out in the days leading up to August 15.

India vs Sri Lanka Series 2026 Highlights

• 1st Test: August 15–19, Galle International Stadium
• 2nd Test: August 23–27, Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
• Captain: Shubman Gill | Vice-Captain: KL Rahul
• Key returns: Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah (subject to fitness)
• Broadcast: Star Sports (TV) | Streaming: JioHotstar

With both sides hungry for WTC points and a nine-year wait finally coming to an end, this promises to be one of the more closely watched bilateral series of the year. Mark your calendars, August 15, Galle, 10 am onwards.