Archive · 23 Aug 2026
India Seek Colombo Test Sweep Against Injury-Hit Sri Lanka
India and Sri Lanka are playing the second Test match in Colombo.
India won the first Test in Galle, so they are ahead 1-0.
India can win the series by winning or drawing this match.
Sri Lanka want to level the series on home soil.
India’s Manav Suthar bowled very well in the first Test and took 10 wickets.
Devdutt Padikkal also scored 167 runs and won Player of the Match.
Sri Lanka have several injured batters missing from the team.
The match is important for India because it can help their World Test Championship campaign.
India lead the two-Test series 1-0 after a decisive victory over Sri Lanka in Galle.
The second and final Test is being played at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on August 23, 2026.
Shubman Gill’s India are seeking a series sweep and additional World Test Championship points.
Manav Suthar took 10 wickets in the first Test, while Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 and was named Player of the Match.
Sri Lanka will be without injured batters Dinesh Chandimal, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, according to the reports.
- Who
- India, led by Shubman Gill, and Sri Lanka, led by Dhananjaya de Silva.
- What
- The second and final Test of a two-match series, with India leading 1-0.
- When
- The match is being played on August 23, 2026.
- Where
- The Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- India are seeking to complete a series sweep and gain World Test Championship points, while Sri Lanka are trying to level the series at home.
India’s Position
Sri Lanka’s Position
Series objective
India’s Position
India are confident after a big win in Galle and are aiming to seal or sweep the series in Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s Position
Sri Lanka are seeking a stronger performance and must win to level the series at 1-1.
Spin bowling
India’s Position
India’s spinners outbowled Sri Lanka’s in the first Test, with Manav Suthar emerging as a leading performer alongside Kuldeep Yadav.
Sri Lanka’s Position
Sri Lanka’s spinners struggled to make a major impact despite playing in familiar home conditions.
Team availability
India’s Position
India have been presented as the more settled side after their comprehensive opening-Test victory.
Sri Lanka’s Position
Sri Lanka will be without Dinesh Chandimal, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis because of injuries, and reports say they will not field their first-choice XI.
Match conditions
India’s Position
The Sinhalese Sports Club pitch is described as offering help to both batters and bowlers, giving India an opportunity to build on their all-round performance.
Sri Lanka’s Position
The same balanced pitch is expected to make batting second difficult, increasing the importance of conditions and the toss.
- Series
- Two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka
- Series score
- India lead 1-0
- Match
- Second and final Test
- Venue
- Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
- India captain
- Shubman Gill
- First-Test standout
- Manav Suthar took 10 wickets; Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 runs
- Sri Lanka absences
- Dinesh Chandimal, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are unavailable because of injuries
- WTC position
- India were fifth in the 2025-27 World Test Championship standings with 64 points and a 53.33% points percentage
