The rivalry between the Sri Lanka national cricket team and the Indian national cricket team is among the oldest of the Asian cricket rivals. The two sides first played world-class cricket against each other in the 1979 World Cup and later have since competed in Tests, ODIs, T20Is, Asia Cup matches, and World Cup Finals. The match has seen legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Muttiah Muralitharan take part over the decades.
The India-Sri Lanka series is known to have delivered some classic moments in cricket, such as World Cup finals, Asia Cup finals, high-scoring ODIs, incredible T20I finishes and nail-biting Test matches. India have consistently been better in their head-to-head record, and Sri Lanka have had some good performances in bigger tournaments as well. The latest Test chapter was written by India in 2026 when they visited Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series. The first Test was won by 165 runs by India, and the second Test was drawn.
History of Sri Lanka vs India Cricket Rivalry
This rivalry started between Sri Lanka and India in the year 1979 at England’s Cricket World Cup. In that match, Sri Lanka won the game by 47 runs, which was an important early highlight for the Sri Lanka side in the history of the fixture. The competition moved on to Test cricket when Sri Lanka was granted Test status in 1982. The series between the two teams grew more frequent in the 1980s and 1990s, as they began to face each other more often in bilateral series and Asia Cups. In India, top players include Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid; and in Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya, Arjuna Ranatunga and Muttiah Muralitharan.
| Category | Details |
| First International Meeting | 1979 |
| First Match | World Cup, 1979 |
| Formats | Tests, ODIs and T20Is |
| Teams | Sri Lanka vs India |
| Major Competitions | World Cup, Asia Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy |
| Major Rivalry Era | 1990s–Present |
| Latest Test Series | India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 |
| Latest Test Result | India won 1st Test; 2nd Test drawn |
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Cricket Timeline (1979 – 2026)
1979: The Rivalry Begins
Sri Lanka and India played their first international cricket match at Old Trafford in Manchester during the 1979 World Cup. Sri Lanka had a victory by 47 runs.
1980: Sri Lanka achieved Test status
In 1982, Sri Lanka became a Test country. They also set up a strong rivalry between India and Sri Lanka, with the former winning the 1988 final by six wickets.
1990–1996: A New Era
The match had stars like Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya in the contest. In the semi-final of the 1996 World Cup, Sri Lanka beat India at Kolkata before going on to win the tournament.
1997–2000: Record-Breaking Tests
Sri Lanka posted a record 952/6 for 1997 against India, while Sanath Jayasuriya had knocked off 340 in the same year.
2001–2007: Muralitharan Era
Muttiah Muralitharan emerged as a big threat against India and has scalped 105 Test wickets. Players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid led the batting for India.
2008–2010: Asia Cup Battles
India lost the 2008 final of the Asia Cup to Sri Lanka by 100 runs, and in the 2010 final, India defeated Sri Lanka by 81 runs to claim the trophy.
2011: World Cup Final
In the world cup final Sri Lanka scored 274/6 in the 2011 World Cup final. Gautam Gambhir anchored the chase with a brilliant 97, and then captain MS Dhoni finished the match in style by hitting a legendary six to seal a 6-wicket victory for India.
2012–2014: T20 World Cup Rivalry
Kumar Sangakkara was unbeaten as Sri Lanka beat India in the 2014 World T20 final in Dhaka by six wickets.
2015–2017: India’s Strong Run
India went 3-0, 5-0 and 1-0 in the Test series, ODI series and one-off T20I respectively on the Sri Lanka tour in 2017.
2018–2020: Limited-Overs Focus
Both teams were revamping their teams, and the competition became more and more dominated by ODIs and T20Is.
2021–2023: New Generation
Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav were the names that came to mind for India, while Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga were the ones that sprang to mind. Sri Lanka had to settle for a runner-up spot in the 2023 Asia Cup final, losing to India by 10 wickets.
2024: Super Over Drama
India emerged victorious in the T20I series with a 3-0 record, including a Super Over win in the third game. The ODI series was tied after the first match, but Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the remaining two games.
2025: Another Super Over
India and Sri Lanka had a deadlock in the 2025 Asia Cup Super Four fixture and were both 202 runs each. The ensuing Super Over went in favour of India.
2026: Latest Test Chapter
India registered their maiden 2026 victory with a 165-run margin in the first Test in Galle, and drew the second Test in Colombo.
| Year | Venue/Event | Result |
| 1979 | Manchester World Cup (Old Trafford) | Sri Lanka won by 47 runs |
| 1988 | Asia Cup Final | India won by 6 wickets |
| 1996 | World Cup Semi-final | Sri Lanka won |
| 1997 | Colombo Test | Sri Lanka scored 952/6d |
| 2008 | Asia Cup Final | Sri Lanka won by 100 runs |
| 2010 | Asia Cup Final | India won by 81 runs |
| 2011 | World Cup Final | India won by 6 wickets |
| 2014 | World T20 Final | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
| 2017 | Sri Lanka Tour | India won the Test and ODI series |
| 2023 | Asia Cup Final | India won by 10 wickets |
| 2024 | T20I, Pallekele | India won the Super Over |
| 2025 | Asia Cup Super Four | India won the Super Over |
| 2026 | 1st Test, Galle | India won by 165 runs |
| 2026 | 2nd Test, Colombo | Match drawn |
India vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Cricket Stats
| Format | Matches | India Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | Other Results |
| Tests | 48 | 23 | 7 | 18 draws |
| ODIs | 171 | 99 | 59 | 11 No results, 2 Ties |
| T20Is | 36 | 26 | 9 | 1 No Result |
Top Run Scorers in Sri Lanka vs India Matches
| Player | Team | ODI Runs |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 3,113 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 2,899 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 2,700 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 2,666 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 2,594+ |
Memorable Batting Performances
There have been some great batting displays that have defined the Sri Lanka vs India fixture.
- In 1997, Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 runs for Colombo.
- In 2009, he scored 293 runs off Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
- Mahela Jayawardene scored 275 runs in 2009 in Ahmedabad.
- Virat Kohli hit 243 off Sri Lanka in Delhi in 2017.
- In 2014, Rohit Sharma made a record 264-run ODI knock in Kolkata.
- The unbeaten 183 by MS Dhoni was written in 2005 in Jaipur.
- Pathum Nissanka had a big impact on the 2025 Asia Cup Super Four game with 107.
Highest Individual Scores in the Rivalry
| Player | Score | Format | Venue | Year |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 340 | Test | Colombo | 1997 |
| Virender Sehwag | 293 | Test | Mumbai | 2009 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 275 | Test | Ahmedabad | 2009 |
| Virat Kohli | 243 | Test | Delhi | 2017 |
| Rohit Sharma | 264 | ODI | Kolkata | 2014 |
Top Wicket Takers in Sri Lanka vs India Matches
| Bowler | Team | Test Wickets | ODI Wickets |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 105 | 74 |
| Anil Kumble | India | 74 | — |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 62 | — |
| Harbhajan Singh | India | 53 | 61 |
| Zaheer Khan | India | — | 66 |
Best Bowling Performances
| Bowler | Figures | Format | Venue | Year |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 8/87 | Test | Colombo | 2001 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 7/30 | ODI | Sharjah | 2000 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 6/21 | ODI | Colombo | 2023 |
| Robin Singh | 5/22 | ODI | Guwahati | 1997 |
| Javagal Srinath | 5/24 | ODI | Kanpur | 1993 |
Sri Lanka vs India Cricket Venue Records
It has been played at many renowned cricket grounds in India, Sri Lanka, and neutral grounds. Colombo has hosted several important matches, while Galle, Pallekele, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Bengaluru have also been prominent playing fields.
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
The R. Premadasa Stadium has been home to many matches between India and Sri Lanka, including the Asia Cup final in 2023. It was also the place where Sri Lanka were bowled out for 50 in that final.
| Venue | Important Rivalry Moment |
| R. Premadasa Stadium | 2023 Asia Cup Final |
| Galle International Stadium | 2026 Test |
| Pallekele International Stadium | 2024 T20I Super Over |
| Wankhede Stadium | 2011 World Cup Final |
| Eden Gardens | Rohit Sharma’s 264 in 2014 |
| Delhi | Virat Kohli’s 243 in 2017 |
Neutral Venues
There have been a few big matches between Sri Lanka and India played outside of India and Sri Lanka. The World T20 2014 final was held in Dhaka, where Sri Lanka beat India by six wickets. The Asia Cup Super Four 2025 was played in Dubai, and the Super Over was won by India.
Therefore, neutral venues have been important in the rivalry, particularly in ICC and Asian Cricket Council tournaments.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Recent Matches
| Date | Venue | Format | Winner/Result | Tournament/Series |
| Aug 23, 2026 | Colombo | Test | Match drawn | India tour of Sri Lanka |
| Aug 15, 2026 | Galle | Test | India won by 165 runs | India tour of Sri Lanka |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Dubai | T20I | India won the Super Over | Asia Cup |
| Jul 30, 2024 | Pallekele | T20I | India won the Super Over | India tour of Sri Lanka |
| Jul 28, 2024 | Pallekele | T20I | India won by 7 wickets | India tour of Sri Lanka |
| Jul 27, 2024 | Pallekele | T20I | India won by 43 runs | India tour of Sri Lanka |
| Aug 7, 2024 | Colombo | ODI | Sri Lanka won by 110 runs | India tour of Sri Lanka |
| Aug 4, 2024 | Colombo | ODI | Sri Lanka won by 32 runs | India tour of Sri Lanka |
| Aug 2, 2024 | Colombo | ODI | Match tied | India tour of Sri Lanka |
| Sep 17, 2023 | Colombo | ODI | India won by 10 wickets | Asia Cup Final |
Conclusion
Sri Lanka national cricket team vs India national cricket team is one of the most important rivalries in Asian cricket. The fixture has witnessed significant moments over the years, from Sri Lanka’s first major win over India in the 1979 World Cup to the thrilling Super Over battle in the 2025 Asia Cup and the Asia Cup final in 2023.
The rivalry has had protagonists like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Recently, its history has been enriched with pages by players like Mohammed Siraj and Pathum Nissanka.
The series with Sri Lanka was extended with the 2026 Test series, which India won by 165 runs in Galle and drew in Colombo. As both sides keep on introducing new players, the Sri Lanka vs India rivalry is still a significant segment of international cricket.
FAQs
Sri Lanka and India played their first international cricket match against each other in the 1979 World Cup in Nottingham. Sri Lanka won the game by 47 runs.
India boasts a better overall head-to-head record across the three international formats. They have more Test, ODI & T20I wins than Sri Lanka.
Some of the memorable matches are the 2011 World Cup final, 2014 World T20 final, and the 2023 Asia Cup final. One of the highlights of the 2023 Asia Cup final came when Sri Lanka was bowled out for 50 in the face of India’s 10-wicket triumph.
Sachin Tendulkar has scored 3,113 runs in 139 matches against Sri Lanka for India and is the top run-scorer in the ODI series.
Muttiah Muralitharan is the top wicket-taker in the India vs Sri Lanka Test series with 105 wickets.
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