As India tour Sri Lanka for the first time since 2017, we have a look at their chances of winning an important series in the context of the World Test Championship. India currently sit fifth in the World Test Championship rankings and need to do a lot of work to reach the final. It won be an easy task as they face New Zealand in their own backyard followed by the Aussies at home after playing the Sri Lanka series.

When India toured Sri Lanka back in 2017, they adapted well to the conditions and won the series 3-0. Of course, Sri Lanka were not at their wily best. The spinners bowled off-length, and the pacers were easy to score off. India, under Shastri and Kohli wanted to dominate in all conditions during their tenure, and they did exactly that.

India went with Mukund for the first test, as both Rahul and Vijay were unavailable. He did his job of scoring 81 in the second innings but was dropped in the second test as Rahul replaced him at the top. This Indian side carried itself with the confidence of having won 6 consecutive test series since 2015. The series wins include a triumphant Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory (2-1) and home wins against New Zealand, England, and South Africa. Such results were possible because of the shrewd batting performances, where India would bulk up big scores and allow the spin twins, Ashwin and Jadeja, to dominate against the opposition batters.

This time when they tour Sri Lanka, it will be different. India are without almost the entire 2017 squad that toured Sri Lanka apart from Rahul, Kuldeep and Jadeja, who are with the team this time. Rahul will open the innings while Jadeja’s all-round abilities make him a bowler and a batter in the lower middle order. It is fair to say that most of the players have not experienced a Test tour to Sri Lanka and that lack of experience could make this a closely fought series. The two teams will be keen to perform well with the World Test Championship at stake.

India’s opening batters, Rahul and Jaiswal, are familiar with opening the innings together, having done so in 29 innings and amassed 991 runs. Their task is to see off the new ball and avoid losing early wickets. Though the quick bowlers will not have a very pronounced role in these conditions, early wickets can dent the chances of posting a big total. On the other hand, it will be India’s ultimate task to survive and score against spin, and that challenge will be at the top of every batter’s worry. In fact, their proficiency against spin will be the criterion for selection in both tests. 

India’s number three options are Padikkal and Sai Sudharshan. India have opted to go with Sai at number three in the recent tests they have played in the current World Test Championship, but Padikkal featured in the tour match against SLC XI, while Sudharshan did not. With Sudharshan’s unavailability, Padikkal may get the nod ahead of the former. Both of them are left-handers and scored well when India A played two unofficial tests against Sri Lanka A in these conditions. (Sai scored 332 runs in 4 innings, including two hundreds, and Padikkal scored 173 runs in 3 innings.) 

As far as the middle order is concerned, India have not looked further than Dhruv Jurel. Captain Gill and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant select themselves, but the number six role has shifted from Karun Nair to Jurel. Nair was overlooked after the England tests last year and has not been called up since. It may have to do with the conditions because he was primarily selected for the England tour courtesy of his defence and role where the ball swings more than a tad. Jurel’s recent form shows good signs as he scored a 125 against the Windies in October 2025 and averages 47.50 in his 6 tests. A notable omission who would have been more than handy with the bat is that of Sarfaraz Khan. He has a test hundred at home (against New Zealand in Bengaluru, 2024) and is known for his attacking prowess against spin bowling. (Sarfaraz Khan has now been announced as Sai Sudharshan’s replacement and is part of the squad.)

India also played a tour match against SLC XI, where the players got some handy match practice ahead of the Tests. India had a tough day with the ball on day one but bounced back well when they were asked to bowl in the second innings. On the batting front, Devdutt Padikkal scored a big hundred, 142 (164) and virtually sealed his spot at number three. All of the bowlers in the squad got a chance to bowl in the tour game, including four spinners and four pacers. If we look at who makes it into the XI for the first Test, Prasidh and Siraj lead the pace attack while Jadeja and Kuldeep pick themselves. The final spot, i.e., the third spinner’s position, could be grabbed by Manav Suthar, who was economical in the practise game. Gurnoor Brar was also impressive with the old ball. He challenged the batters with his short-pitched bowling. 

As far as Sri Lanka are concerned, they will want their premier off-spinner Prabath Jayasuriya to replicate what he did in the previous World Test Championship cycle. He picked 58 wickets in 22 innings and was Sri Lanka’s highest wicket-taker in the 2023-2025 cycle. He finished 7th on the list of highest wicket-takers in that WTC cycle. Sri Lanka have won their most recent series at home, in 2025, when Bangladesh arrived (1-0), but lost comprehensively when Australia toured for two tests in the same year. (0-2) India have toured Sri Lanka on five occasions since 2001 and have won two bilateral series in 2015 and 2017, respectively. 

India are without the injured players, including spearhead Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Sai Sudharshan, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep. If India can keep the rest of their team injury-free, they have every chance of winning on Sri Lankan shores and improving their record in the World Test Championship. Those who did well in the tour match will likely have an advantage in the selection process, and we hope the right XI is picked for an important series opener. Do tell us about your predictions for the series. Eg. India’s bowling combination, Middle-order selection, series result etc.

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