Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test – Match (India tour of Sri Lanka 2026) The second and final Test of the India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 begins on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo, with play starting at 10:00 AM local time (10:00 AM IST). India lead the two-match series 1-0 after a comprehensive 165-run victory in the first Test at Galle, and will be looking to seal the series here, while Sri Lanka need a win to level the contest and restore pride at home.
The SSC surface in Colombo is expected to be drier than Galle but still carry some early grass, offering a balanced contest between bat and ball rather than a sharply turning track. Pacers should find some initial assistance, especially with the new ball, while spinners are likely to come into play as the match progresses and the pitch wears. Batting first remains attractive if the sky stays kind, but the forecast makes that a gamble.
Weather is the big talking point. Colombo is forecast to be mostly cloudy with intermittent showers and thunderstorms across the five days, with temperatures around 30–31°C and high humidity. Rain chances are significant: roughly 60% on Day 1, peaking around 90–96% on Days 2–3, and remaining high towards the end of the match. That raises the possibility of lost overs and even a draw if the heavens open repeatedly, so both teams will be keen to maximise every dry window.
With India already 1-0 up, this Test is effectively a series decider. A win or draw gives India a 2-0 or 1-0 series triumph on Sri Lankan soil for the first time since their 3-0 whitewash in 2017. For Sri Lanka, after a heavy defeat in Galle, the pressure is on to respond quickly and avoid a series loss at home, especially with World Test Championship points at stake.
IND vs SL Match Details
- Match / League / Season: Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test
- Date: August 23–27, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM local / 10:00 AM IST
- Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo
IND vs SL Live Streaming Info
The 2nd Test Match between India vs Sri Lanka is scheduled for Aug 23, 2026.
- In India: The match will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network and live streaming will be available on FanCode and Amazon Prime Video (SonyLiv app).
- In New Zealand: The match will be telecast on TVNZ 1 and streamed live on Sky Sport Now.
- In Australia: Telecast is available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, and Fox Cricket channel (Channel 501) with live streaming on Kayo and Foxtel platforms.
- In Pakistan and other regions, platforms like Tapmad may also provide live streaming options
How to Watch the Match for Free:
On TV: The match is available free on DD Sports if you have a DD Free Dish connection; this lets you watch the game without any extra subscription fee.
On apps/sites: Live streaming is officially on JioCinema/Disney+ Hotstar (as per current rights), but these usually require at least a basic mobile or bundled plan; full live action is not generally free, though highlights are often available at no cost after the match.
Live Streaming Info:
The 2nd Test match will be live on Willow TV.
Live Score Info:
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Match 2026: ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
India’s momentum is strong: they dominated with both bat and ball in Galle, with spinner Manav Suthar taking 10 wickets in the match (6/55 in the second innings) as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206 chasing 372. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be desperate for their batters to show more resilience and for their spin duo to outplay India’s middle order on a potentially less reactive track than Galle.
Head-to-Head in Tests
India and Sri Lanka have a long Test history, with 46 matches played between them.
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India wins: 22
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Sri Lanka wins: 7
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Draws: 17
In Sri Lanka, the contest is tighter, but India still hold the edge overall. At Galle specifically, Sri Lanka have a slight advantage in recent years, but this match is in Colombo, where conditions and records differ.
Last five Test meetings (most recent first):
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1st Test, Galle, Aug 2026 – India won by 165 runs
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2nd Test, Colombo (SSC), Mar 2022 – India won
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1st Test, Colombo (SSC), Mar 2022 – India won
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2nd Test, Colombo (SSC), Dec 2017 – India won
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1st Test, Galle, Dec 2017 – India won
India have clearly dominated this rivalry in the last decade, especially in bilateral series.
Team Analysis: Sri Lanka
Strengths:
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Experienced spin combination with Prabath Jayasuriya and Dhananjaya de Silva, who can control long spells and exploit any turn.
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Home familiarity at SSC and the ability to bat long if the top order fires.
Weaknesses:
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Batting fragility against quality spin, as seen in Galle when they collapsed for 206 in the fourth innings.
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Inconsistent pace attack beyond Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, who must find early breakthroughs.
Key Players:
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Dhananjaya de Silva (c): Anchor with the bat and crucial third spinner; his all-round role is vital.
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Kamindu Mendis: Aggressive middle-order batter who can shift momentum; also offers a spin option.
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Prabath Jayasuriya: Lead spinner; will be expected to take 15+ wickets across the match if Sri Lanka are to win.
Recent Form:
Sri Lanka looked outplayed in Galle, with their batters unable to handle India’s spin trio and their bowlers struggling to contain India’s depth. They need significantly better application at the crease and sharper plans against India’s left-handers and spin-hitters.
Team Analysis: India
Strengths:
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Deep, flexible batting line-up with multiple players capable of big hundreds.
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Three-pronged spin attack (Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav/Saransh Jain) that can vary pace and angle.
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Proven ability to win in Sri Lanka, with strong recent series records.
Weaknesses:
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If rain reduces the match to three or four days, the balance between three spinners and two pacers could be scrutinised, especially if the pitch stays flat.
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Occasional middle-order lapses against high-quality spin in Asia, though less evident in this tour so far.
Key Players:
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Shubman Gill (c): Classy top-order batter whose form sets the tone; his ability to play spin will be crucial.
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Rishabh Pant (wk): Game-changer with the bat; his aggression can break Sri Lanka’s spell and set up declarations.
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Manav Suthar: Match-winner in Galle with 10 wickets; confidence sky-high.
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Mohammed Siraj: Lead pacer who must extract early movement and bowl tight lines in overcast conditions.
Recent Form:
India looked in control in Galle, posting a strong total, restricting Sri Lanka twice, and closing out the match comfortably. Their spinners shared wickets effectively, and the batters showed good application against Jayasuriya and co.
Probable Playing XIs
Sri Lanka (Probable XI): Lahiru Igalagamage, Nishan Fernando, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara.
India (Probable XI): KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel / Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav / Saransh Jain, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
(Exact changes may depend on final fitness assessments and whether India opt for three spinners again or tweak the combination for SSC.)
Taking form, squad depth, and conditions into account, India are clear favourites to win or at least secure a draw and the series. Their spin attack is firing, their batting has more firepower, and they have recent series-winning experience in Sri Lanka. However, the high rain probability is a genuine wildcard: if multiple days are washed out, a draw becomes much more likely regardless of superiority.
India to win if they get 3–4 full days of play; otherwise, a rain-affected draw is a strong possibility.