Sri Lanka and India will play the second and final Test from August 23 to 27, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. India lead the two-match series 1-0 after recording a 165-run win in Galle.
Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 and 44, while Manav Suthar claimed ten wickets in the opening Test.
Shubman Gill is our Dream11 captain because of his top-order role. Manav Suthar is the vice-captain pick after taking 4/76 and 6/55 in Galle. Here is our SL vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 prediction, pitch report, weather forecast, injury update, and key players.
SL vs IND 2nd Test Match Details
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test, India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 |
| Date | Sunday to Thursday, August 23–27, 2026 |
| Time | 10:00 AM IST and local time, 4:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Series Score | India lead 1-0 |
| Broadcast in India | Sony Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | Sony LIV app and website |
| Sri Lanka Captain | Dhananjaya de Silva |
| Sri Lanka Vice-Captain | Kamindu Mendis |
| India Captain | Shubman Gill |
| India Vice-Captain | KL Rahul |
| Series | Two-match Test series, 2nd Test |
| Tournament | ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 |
The match schedule lists SSC Colombo as the venue, while Sony LIV has confirmed streaming coverage for the second Test.
Our Dream11 Team Recommendation for SL vs IND 2nd Test 2026
| Role | Selected Players |
|---|---|
| Wicketkeepers | Niroshan Dickwella, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant |
| Batters | Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill |
| All-rounders | Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja |
| Bowler | Mohammed Siraj |
| Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Vice-Captain | Manav Suthar |
This is a pre-toss fantasy team. Check the confirmed playing XIs before locking the team. Any late change from either side could affect the final combination.
SL vs IND 2nd Test Weather Report
Rain could interrupt several sessions during the Colombo Test. The current forecast shows cloudy conditions and a chance of showers on all five days. The risk of longer rain delays appears higher on the final day.
Temperatures should remain close to 30°C or 31°C. High humidity and regular cloud cover could also help the fast bowlers when the ball is new. The forecast may change closer to the match, so check it again before play begins. AccuWeather currently predicts rain or showers from August 23 to 27.
| Weather Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 30°C to 31°C during the day |
| Rain Probability | Showers or rain possible on all five days |
| Sky Condition | Mostly cloudy or overcast |
| Humidity | Around 75% to 80% |
| Wind | Around 19 to 22 km/h |
| Match Interruption Risk | Moderate to high, with the greatest concern on Day 5 |
Pitch Report for Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
The SSC pitch usually offers better batting conditions during the first half of a Test. The average second-innings score is higher than the first-innings average, which shows that the surface can remain good for batting across the opening two innings.
Spinners should gain more control once the pitch starts to wear. The fourth-innings average drops to around 182, so batting last can become difficult. Cloud cover and humidity may help Mohammed Siraj and the other fast bowlers early in each session.
The venue has produced an even split between teams batting first and second. However, the captain may still prefer to bat first on a dry surface. This would keep the team away from a difficult fourth-innings chase.
| Pitch Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Good for batting early, with more help for spinners later |
| Historic Test Record | 46 Tests, with 16 wins batting first, 16 wins batting second, and 14 draws |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 323 runs |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 354 runs |
| Average 3rd Innings Score | 273 runs |
| Average 4th Innings Score | 182 runs |
| Highest Test Total | 756/5 by Sri Lanka against South Africa |
| Lowest Test Total | 81 by Sri Lanka against England |
| Highest Successful Chase | 326/5 by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe |
| Toss Decision | Bat first if the pitch looks dry and firm |
Injury Updates
India: Jasprit Bumrah remains unavailable because of discomfort in his left knee. Auqib Nabi replaced him in the Test squad. Sai Sudharsan also misses the series because of a toe injury, with Sarfaraz Khan taking his place. The BCCI’s updated squad includes both replacements.
India reported no major new injury after the first Test. Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, and the other players included in the suggested fantasy team remain available.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal will miss the Colombo Test after suffering a concussion in Galle. Kusal Mendis remains out with a hamstring injury, while Pathum Nissanka continues his recovery from wrist surgery.
Sri Lanka have added batter Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige to their squad. Their inclusion gives the hosts two options for the vacant batting positions. Reuters confirmed the absences of Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, and Nissanka.
Sri Lanka vs India Head-to-Head in Tests
| Category | India | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 47 | 47 |
| Matches Won | 23 | 7 |
| Matches Drawn | 17 | 17 |
| Wins in Sri Lanka | 10 | 7 |
| Overall Win Percentage | 48.94% | 14.89% |
What the Numbers Tell Us
India have won 23 of their 47 Tests against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka have recorded seven wins, while 17 matches have ended in draws. India also lead the away record with ten Test victories in Sri Lanka.
India have won four of the last five Test meetings between the teams. The remaining match ended in a draw. Their latest success came in Galle, where they won by 165 runs after setting Sri Lanka a target of 372.
The result also extended India’s winning run in Sri Lanka to six Tests. Sri Lanka must win in Colombo to draw the series. India only need a draw to secure the series 1-0.
Key Players to Watch in SL vs IND 2nd Test 2026
| Player | Team | Role | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manav Suthar | India | Spin-bowling all-rounder | Suthar took 4/76 and 6/55 in Galle. His ten-wicket match haul makes him a strong vice-captain option. |
| Devdutt Padikkal | India | Top-order batter | Padikkal scored 167 and 44 in the first Test. His No. 3 position gives him time to build another long innings. |
| Rishabh Pant | India | Wicketkeeper-batter | Pant scored a quick 66 in India’s second innings in Galle. He can earn points through batting and wicketkeeping. |
| Sonal Dinusha | Sri Lanka | All-rounder | Dinusha scored 100 and 84 across the two innings in Galle. He was Sri Lanka’s most consistent batter in the match. |
| Niroshan Dickwella | Sri Lanka | Wicketkeeper-batter | Dickwella scored 80 in Sri Lanka’s first innings. His wicketkeeping role adds another route to fantasy points. |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | Sri Lanka | All-rounder and captain | De Silva scored 59 in the second innings at Galle. He can contribute with both bat and off-spin. |
| Ravindra Jadeja | India | Spin-bowling all-rounder | Jadeja offers batting depth and regular bowling overs. The wearing SSC surface should increase his wicket potential. |
| Mohammed Siraj | India | Fast bowler | Cloud cover and high humidity could help Siraj find movement with the new ball. |
