3 batters to watch out for in SL vs IND 1st Test

The first Test of a two-match series between Sri Lanka and India gets underway at the Galle International Stadium on August 15, 2026. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with India currently placed fifth in the standings, holding 52 points and a points percentage of 48.15 after nine Tests.

Both sides carry notable storylines into the match. Sri Lanka will be without Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka for the first Test, while India are led by a captain chasing a significant personal milestone. With the second Test scheduled at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on August 23, 2026, the Galle contest sets the tone for the series.

Kamindu Mendis serves as vice-captain of Sri Lanka's 16-member squad, which was named on August 12, 2026, under the captaincy of Dhananjaya de Silva. Playing at home in Galle, where the conditions are familiar, Mendis carries added responsibility given the absence of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka from the Sri Lanka lineup.

As a left-handed batter who is comfortable against both pace and spin, Kamindu Mendis will be central to Sri Lanka's batting effort in the first Test. His role as deputy captain also places him in a position of leadership within the team, and his performance with the bat could be a defining factor in how Sri Lanka compete against a well-organised Indian side. The southpaw has scored 1,453 runs in 16 Tests at an average of 58.12.