2 weeks ago
India Face Sri Lanka Spin Challenge in Galle's 50th Test
Cricket is a sport played with a bat and a ball.
Two teams are getting ready to play a big match: India and Sri Lanka.
This will be the first of two games, called Tests, that the teams will play.
Test matches are very long games that can last for five days.
The game will happen in Galle, a city in Sri Lanka, at a famous stadium.
It will be the 50th time that stadium hosts a Test match, which makes it very special.
Both teams really need to win to improve their chances in the World Test Championship, which decides the best cricket team in the world.
India have lost some home games recently, so they are trying hard to play better.
The coach, Gautam Gambhir, hopes his team can win.
Shubman Gill-led India face Sri Lanka in the first of a two-Test series at Galle International Stadium on Saturday.
The match is the 50th Test to be staged at Galle International Stadium.
India sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings after home series defeats to New Zealand and South Africa, with Sri Lanka sixth.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir is under pressure to revive India's red-ball fortunes in what is a must-win match.
India have played just one Test in 2026 and last toured Sri Lanka for a Test series in 2017.
- Who
- Shubman Gill-led India and Sri Lanka, with Gautam Gambhir as India's head coach
- What
- The first of two Tests, marking the 50th Test at Galle International Stadium and a key World Test Championship clash
- Where
- Galle International Stadium, Galle, Sri Lanka
- When
- Saturday
- Why
- Both teams are desperate for World Test Championship points, and India need to revive their red-ball form after home series defeats
Key facts
- Series
- First of two Tests between India and Sri Lanka
- Venue
- Galle International Stadium (hosting its 50th Test)
- India WTC ranking
- 5th
- Sri Lanka WTC ranking
- 6th
- India captain
- Shubman Gill
- India head coach
- Gautam Gambhir
- India's Tests in 2026
- One, against Afghanistan in June
- Last India Test series in Sri Lanka
- 2017










