India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 | Second Test | Preview and Predictions

After a dominating win in the opening Test of the two-match series, visitors India will be looking to wrap up an important series win away from home. Shubman Gill and his boys will be looking for a win in Colombo to keep their hopes of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Ahead of the second Test between Sri Lanka and India, here’s our match preview and prediction. 

India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 | 2nd Test | 10:00 IST, August 23–27, 2026

Shubman Gill’s boys had a strong all-round show in Galle as the batters stepped up in the first innings while the spinners got the job done to wrap up the match. KL Rahul at the top was at his consistent best as he has slowly become one of the most reliable red-ball openers going around. Devdutt Padikkal was the stand-out batter for India in the first Test with his 167 in the first innings setting up India for a big score. At the top order it was Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill missing out as both had unusually low scores but the management wouldn’t be worried a lot given the class of both the batters.

The middle order of India remains a bit of a worry with Rishabh Pant’s living on the edge style which causes some concern at times but Pant’s fighting 66 in the second innings was key for India to put up a respectable target. Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja are key batters lower down in order while India have found an incredible find at no. 8 who is more than handy with the bat. 

Suthar was India’s key spinner as the left-armer’s 10-wicket haul saw India pick up a big win and he provided India with a strong spin-attack. Suthar was unplayable for the most of the game as the Sri Lankan batters struggled to pick him up and he was ably supported by Ravindra Jadeja and the seam duo of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Team India fielded three left-arm spinners in Galle but could look to bring in a right-arm off-spinner in place of Kuldeep Yadav which could mean Saransh Jain gets a game in Colombo. 

The hosts meanwhile had a rough outing in Galle as their batters weren’t able to tackle India’s spin attack. Barring Sonal Dinusha’s 100 and Niroshan Dickwella’s 80, none of the Sri Lanka batters could cross 30 in the first innings as they struggle to read the likes of Suthar and Jadeja and moving to Colombo they will hope their batters adapt to the home conditions. A big blow to the hosts will be Dinesh Chandimal’s neck injury which has ruled him out from the second Test and the hosts have brought in the uncapped Kamil Mishara who comes into the team on the back of rich form in the domestic white-ball scene. Dinusha was the hosts’ best batter in the opening Test while de Silva and Dickwella got some runs under their belt but the Sri Lankan management will be hoping that their top order provides better starts and gets some time spent in the middle and runs in Colombo. 

While the batting was a let-down it was Sri Lanka’s spin attack which wasn’t able to trouble the Indian batters. Dhananjaya de Silva will expect the likes of Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha and the young Sonal Dinusha. Along with Mishara, Sri Lanka has also added another uncapped player, Sahan Arachchige to their squad, who is handy with the bat and a right-arm offbreaker. 

The Colombo track will be similar to the Galle strip but it is known to be a bit drier with grass that will bring in the fast bowlers into play although the batters would be looking to get set in as there will be plenty of runs on offer. Visitors India come in as the favourites once again and despite not having a stellar batting lineup, it is India’s bowling unit that gives them the edge. 

Fantasy XI: KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Manav Suthar Asitha Fernando, Mohammed Siraj, Prabath Jayasuriya

Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo

Winners Prediction: India