Sri Lanka Announce Squad For IND vs SL 1st Test 2026: Dhananjaya de Silva Named Captain, Niroshan Dickwella Makes Comeback
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced a 16-member Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against India, with all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva leading the side. The first Test is scheduled from August 15-19, 2026, at the Galle International Stadium, followed by the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today, August 12, 2026, announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming 1st Test between Sri Lanka and India, confirming all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva as the captain. The series holds significant weight as both nations vie for crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. The first Test is scheduled to begin on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium, with the second Test following on August 23 in Colombo. Ajinkya Rahane Joins Sony Sports Commentary Panel for India vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2026.
The squad sees the return of experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who is set to replace the injured Kusal Mendis for the opening Test. Uncapped off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha has also earned a call-up, signaling the selectors' intent to blend experience with fresh talent for the challenging home assignment.
Squads at a Glance
Sri Lanka Test Squad (for 1st Test vs India):
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dhananjaya de Silva (c) | All-rounder |
| Kamindu Mendis (vc) | All-rounder |
| Lahiru Udara | Batter |
| Nishan Madushka | Batter |
| Dinesh Chandimal | Batter |
| Pasindu Sooriyabandara | Batter |
| Sonal Dinusha | All-rounder |
| Niroshan Dickwella (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Ramesh Mendis | All-rounder |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | Spinner |
| Keshara Nuwantha | Spinner |
| Milan Rathnayake | Pacer |
| Asitha Fernando | Pacer |
| Lahiru Kumara | Pacer |
| Vishwa Fernando | Pacer |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Pacer |
India Test Squad (for Sri Lanka Tour):
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (c) | Batter |
| KL Rahul (vc) | Batter |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter |
| Rishabh Pant (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Sai Sudharsan | Batter |
| Dhruv Jurel (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner |
| Manav Suthar | Spinner |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Pacer |
| Mohammed Siraj | Pacer |
| Prasidh Krishna | Pacer |
| Gurnoor Brar | Pacer |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batter |
| Saransh Jain | All-rounder |
Series Schedule and Match Details
The two-match series is part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. India's ICC WTC 2025-27 Final Path: How Shubman Gill's Men Can Qualify?.
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time (IST/SLST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | August 15-19, 2026 | Galle International Stadium | 10:00 AM |
| 2nd Test | August 23-27, 2026 | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 10:00 AM |
Recent Form and Head-to-Head
Sri Lanka enters the series on the back of a tough run, having suffered an innings defeat to West Indies in June 2026. India, under new Test captain Shubman Gill, will look to make a strong start to their WTC campaign. India faced a 0-2 whitewash against South Africa in their previous WTC assignments in November 2025. Historically, India has a dominant record against Sri Lanka in Test cricket, especially in recent years. In their last five Test encounters, India has secured three wins, with two matches ending in a draw. The upcoming series marks India's first Test tour of Sri Lanka in nine years, adding a layer of anticipation to the contest. With WTC points on the line and both teams eager to assert dominance, cricket enthusiasts can expect a hard-fought battle on Sri Lanka's famously spin-friendly pitches.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 12, 2026 02:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
