India National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline

India and Sri Lanka share one of cricket’s most intriguing rivalries, showcasing its evolution. Their battles have produced unforgettable moments while inspiring generations of players.

This rivalry has featured thrilling World Cup matches, record-setting innings and fierce bilateral series competition. This timeline chronicles their rich history of competition.

In this article, we will discuss the main points or high lights of India National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline.

Timeline

India and Sri Lanka have shared an exciting cricketing history, featuring both tight draws and thrilling contests that remain etched into fans’ memories. This year, these two sides will meet again for five ODI and six T20I series that should help India cement its dominance over Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game.

India and Sri Lanka cricket teams have long had a fierce rivalry dating back to 1982-83 when Sri Lanka first made their international debut. Although they went down fighting against India at their debut Test match and all subsequent one-day internationals against them, Sri Lanka earned considerable respect in the world due to their daring strokeplay and defiance against one of cricket’s premier sides.

Sri Lanka was heavy on batting but short on bowlers, so India easily eclipsed their totals during the first two Tests. The third Test marked a turning point; Venkatapathy Raju used his spin bowling to destroy visiting batsmen with six wickets taken off them within 7.5 overs for India to claim victory in an emphatic manner.

As in the ODI series that followed, both teams struggled against poor pitches, while Sri Lankan batsmen found it impossible to keep pace with India’s aggressive pace attack. But India emerged victorious thanks to Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni who produced stunning performances of their own: Rohit scored an outstanding 148 not out and Dhoni made his presence felt with an outstanding 82; these heroic performances propelled their hosts towards an exciting final over win with only 9 runs needed off two balls!

The ODI series promises to be another thrilling battle, with both sides hoping to keep up their winning momentum. Sri Lanka is led by Charith Asalanka and features experienced players like Avishka Fernando and Wanindu Hasaranga; India has seen their batsmen excel under Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav, making this contest all the more consequential for both nations as the winner will gain an edge at Champions Trophy 2025.

Origins

India national cricket team enters a new era under Gautam Gambhir as they host the 2024 ICC World Cup final and aim to add to their trophy cabinet and establish themselves as one of the greatest all-format teams ever seen before.

Both teams have met 46 times in Test cricket, with India winning 22. However, when it comes to one-day internationals (ODI), Sri Lanka has emerged victorious four times while India only managed two wins and two draws.

Sri Lanka edged India out in their inaugural bilateral one-day international (ODI), thanks to Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant innings and Kusal Mendis’s solid partnership of 97 runs with Pathum Nissanka. However, in their decisive match between them India’s Zaheer Khan took charge claiming three wickets within 11 overs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 173 in reply to India’s total of 254.

In 2004, both teams met again for a bilateral one-day international series and this time around it was Sri Lanka that emerged victorious. While struggling in both innings to amass only 187 runs total for themselves, Sri Lankan batsmen crumbled under left-arm spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s slow deliveries.

Sri Lanka was victorious in their home ODI series against India by an overwhelming margin in Colombo. Following an inauspicious start where both openers were dismissed for ducks, Avishka Fernando scored an unbeaten 96 and Captain Mahela Jayawardene made an unbeaten 110 not out. Sri Lanka went on to defeat India by two games to none and win its inaugural bilateral series by an unprecedented margin.

Sri Lanka and India had another bilateral one-day international series in Colombo in 2024 and again it ended 1-1, though India came away victorious by winning the final ODI by 32 runs thanks to Avishka Fernando’s remarkable 96 scoring for them as they amassed 248-7 before Dunith Wellalage took 5-27 as Sri Lanka collapsed into all out 138 all out.

First encounters

Indian and Sri Lanka have met on multiple occasions throughout ODI cricket history, playing multiple matches each tour between each other every two years. First-class matches were often held in Colombo while limited overs games were typically alternated between Colombo and Madras in terms of venue for Gopalan Trophy matches.

On August 25, 1985, both sides met in their inaugural One-Day International (ODI). Sri Lanka secured victory by two wickets; Roy Dias and Arjuna Ranatunga showed their batting prowess, while left-arm spinners Dunith Wellalage and Rumesh Ratnayake provided plenty of damage with their left-arm spin bowling attacks.

Sri Lanka recorded their second win against England by three wickets, as Duleep Mendis and Sunil Gavaskar scored centuries for their respective sides, while Somachandra de Silva and Antony Opatha took three wickets each in bowling department.

Sri Lanka and India were considered two of the premier sides in world cricket at that time, which made for some thrilling contests between them. Their next meeting at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru saw Sri Lanka win by 238 runs with Sangakkara and Thirimanne both scoring centuries for Sangakkara’s side.

Sri Lanka won their first bilateral ODI series against India since 1987 with Avishka Fernando scoring an outstanding 96 to lead them to 248-7 and in reply, left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage took six wickets for only 48 runs before India collapsed into all out 138 all out innings.

Sri Lanka held on to defeat India by four wickets in their fourth ODI, thanks to Kusal Perera’s free-flowing fifty. Charith Asalanka completed an outstanding show by dismissing on-song Shivam Dube during India’s chase of 161 for five wickets total.

Recent battles

India and Sri Lanka share one of the longest and fiercest rivalries in world cricket, clashing countless times across various formats over many years and producing memorable moments in history. Major contributors to this rivalry have included Sachin Tendulkar and legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan; at its height in the 90s both teams battled it out for supremacy globally.

At present, India and Sri Lanka have met in 171 ODI matches; of those, India have won 99 and Sri Lanka 59 respectively – with 16 ending in draws.

Recently, competition between both sides has intensified as both are fighting it out for supremacy in ODI rankings. Their last few meetings have been edge-of-seat thrillers!

In 2024’s T20 series between India and South Africa will feature both talented young cricketers as well as experienced leaders. Suryakumar Yadav will lead his side for all three matches while Shubman Gill serves as deputy captain; both players have been touted as potential future captains of their respective sides.

As such, they will need to perform at their very best if they are to secure victory. Charith Asalanka will be an essential figure for Sri Lanka with his experience and form in the middle order; Kusal Perera’s explosive top order batting will also play an integral part.

India’s young stars will also look to put in an impressive performance at this World Cup. Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel will lead India’s spin attack while Delhi youngster Jasprit Bumrah will provide fast bowling support. Sanju Samson poses a serious threat with bat, while Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, and Mohd. Siraj will all contribute significantly in terms of bating ability.