The India cricket team‘s tour to Sri Lanka in August 2026 will only be a two-Test affair as the BCCI has turned down Sri Lanka Cricket’s request to play 3 T20Is . Earlier in January, SLC had requested the BCCI to play 3 additional matches as part of the tour to support Cyclone Ditwah relief. However, the BCCI has rejected the idea owing to India’s hectic international schedule. The two-match Test series is scheduled to begin from August 15 onwards.
BCCI says no to India vs Sri Lanka T20Is
As per Sportstar, the BCCI has already informed the SLC that accommodating the T20Is would be impossible as India’s international schedule was already packed. While the proposal to host the additional white-ball games was discussed and a two-week window between the conclusion of the India vs Sri Lanka Test series and the men in Blue’s next assignment emerged as the favourable timing for the T20Is, scheduling constraints, workload management concerns and existing commitments have made it difficult for the BCCI to accommodate the additional matches.
The report quotes sources who claim that the BCCI has informed the SLC that it is open to such initiatives in the future if they are able to find a breather in between India’s packed international schedule. Following the Test series against Sri Lanka, India will be playing an away series in Bangladesh which will comprise of 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is. This will be followed by a series against Afghanistan at home.
After that, India will tour New Zealand for a historic series which involves 3 Tests and five ODIs and T20Is each. At the end of year, they will take on a visiting Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In the light of such a packed schedule, having a T20I series against Sri Lanka is close to impossible for the Men in Blue.
India vs Sri Lanka Test series schedule (tentative)
| Match No. | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | August 15 to 19 | Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle |
| 2nd Test | August 23 to 27 | Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Cricket Ground, Colombo |
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