SL vs IND 2026: Second Test match preview

Sri Lanka will take on India in the second Test of the two-match series on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. The visitors currently lead the series 1-0.

Sri Lanka struggled to make an impact in the first Test, with India dominating across all departments. Among the positives for the hosts, Sonal Dinusha scored 184 runs across the two innings, while Prabath Jayasuriya claimed seven wickets. However, the rest of the team struggled against India's attack and will be eager to bounce back and level the series.

India, meanwhile, enjoyed an impressive outing in the first Test. No. 3 batter Devdutt Padikkal was the standout performer with 211 runs, while Manav Suthar led the bowling attack with 10 wickets. India will look to maintain their momentum, complete a series whitewash, and strengthen their position in the World Test Championship 2025-27 points table.

The Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) surface is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. The pitch traditionally tends to be good for batting in the early stages, with decent pace and bounce allowing set batters to score freely. Fast bowlers could get some assistance from the new ball, particularly if there is moisture in the surface. For this Test, reports suggest Sri Lanka are considering a balanced surface rather than preparing a dedicated spin-friendly track, similar to the conditions seen in the first Test at Galle.

Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj