Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Sri Lanka recall Dickwella, Madushanka for first Test against India
The Sri Lanka cricket team is getting ready to play a big match against India.
They shared the list of players who will be in the team.
Niroshan Dickwella is coming back to play Test cricket after almost three years.
He is a wicketkeeper, which means he catches the ball behind the batter.
He is playing because Kusal Mendis got hurt.
Another player, Pathum Nissanka, is also injured and cannot play.
Dhananjaya de Silva will be the captain of the team.
The first match will be in Galle, Sri Lanka, starting on August 15.
The match is part of a big competition called the World Test Championship.
India is in fifth place and Sri Lanka is in sixth place in that competition.
Sri Lanka Cricket announced a 16-member squad for the first Test against India, starting August 15 in Galle.
Wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella returns to Test cricket after nearly three years, filling in for the injured Kusal Mendis.
Dhananjaya de Silva will captain the side, with Kamindu Mendis named vice-captain.
Batters Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were ruled out due to hamstring and wrist injuries respectively.
Uncapped spinner Keshara Nuwantha and returning left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka are included as India and Sri Lanka sit fifth and sixth in the World Test Championship standings.
- Who
- Sri Lanka Cricket, captain Dhananjaya de Silva's 16-member squad, and the Indian team led by Shubman Gill
- What
- Sri Lanka announced its squad for the first Test of the two-match series against India, with Niroshan Dickwella returning as wicketkeeper
- When
- Squad announced on Wednesday; the first Test runs from August 15 to 19
- Where
- Galle International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka, with the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo
- Why
- Kusal Mendis is injured, and the series counts toward the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle
- Squad Size
- 16 members
- Captain
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Vice-Captain
- Kamindu Mendis
- First Test
- August 15-19, Galle International Cricket Stadium
- Second Test Venue
- Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo
- Dickwella's Last Test
- March 2023 vs New Zealand in Christchurch
- Injured Players
- Kusal Mendis (hamstring), Pathum Nissanka (wrist)
- Championship
- ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle
