Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline

The rivalry between the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and the India National Cricket Team is one of the most thrilling and historic in international cricket. For Sri Lanka, every match against India has always been more than just a game — it is an opportunity to showcase their flair, fearless style of cricket, and cricketing identity on a global stage.

From sharing the 2002 Champions Trophy to the 2011 World Cup Final, 2014 T20 World Cup Final, and 2023 Asia Cup Final, this rivalry has produced countless memorable matches and series. It is a rivalry rooted in fierce competition and mutual respect, often pushing both teams to elevate their performances. Legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Lasith Malinga, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni have all left their mark in these encounters.

 Test Match Timeline

In Test cricket, India has largely dominated the rivalry. The two teams have played 46 Test matches, where:

• India won 22 matches
• Sri Lanka won 7 matches
• 17 matches ended in a draw

1️ First Encounter

The first Test match between Sri Lanka and India took place on 17th September 1982 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

 Duleep Mendis, Sunil Gavaskar, and Sandeep Patil scored centuries. Notably, Duleep Mendis scored a century in both innings.

 Dilip Doshi, Kapil Dev, and Ashantha De Mel claimed five-wicket hauls. The match ended in a draw.

2️ Recent Test

The latest Test between the two sides was on 12th March 2022 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, where India won by a massive 238 runs.

 Shreyas Iyer, Angelo Mathews, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant starred with the bat, while Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Praveen Jayawickrama, and Lasith Embuldeniya shone in bowling. Sri Lanka tried their best but India’s strength was too much to overcome.

3️ First Win on Each Other’s Soil

India won their first Test on Sri Lankan soil on 27th July 1993 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, defeating Sri Lanka by 235 runs.

 Arjuna Ranatunga, Vinod Kambli, Navjot Sidhu, and Sachin Tendulkar scored centuries, and Anil Kumble took a five-wicket haul.

 Sri Lanka has never won a Test match in India.

 Test Head-to-Head

DetailResultTotal Matches47Sri Lanka Wins7India Wins22Draws17

 ODI Timeline

India has also dominated One Day Internationals. The two teams have played 171 ODIs, where:

• India won 99 matches
• Sri Lanka won 59 matches
• 11 matches ended with no result

Some of the most memorable moments include:

• 2011 World Cup Final at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, where India triumphed.
• 2024 ODI Series, where Sri Lanka defeated India 2–0, marking a historic achievement.
• 2002 Champions Trophy, where both teams were declared joint champions due to heavy rain.

1️ First ODI

The first ODI encounter was on 16th June 1979 at Old Trafford, Manchester, where Sri Lanka defeated India by 47 runs.

 Sunil Wettimuny and Duleep Mendis played brilliant innings, while Somachandra De Silva and Antony Opatha took three wickets each.

2️ Recent ODI

The most recent ODI was on 7th August 2024 at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, where Sri Lanka defeated India by 110 runs and won the series 2–0.

 Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis starred with the bat, while Dunith Wellalage grabbed a five-wicket haul, and Riyan Parag took three wickets for India.

3️ First Win on Each Other’s Soil

India won their first ODI on Sri Lanka soil on 25th August 1985 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, defeating Sri Lanka by 2 wickets.

 Roy Dias, Arjuna Ranatunga, Ravi Shastri, and Dilip Vengsarkar played pivotal innings, while Chetan Sharma, Rumesh Ratnayake, and Roger Wijesuriya performed in bowling.

 ODI Head-to-Head

DetailResultTotal Matches171Sri Lanka Wins59India Wins99No Result11Tied Matches2

 T20I Timeline

T20Is have not been in Sri Lanka’s favor either. The two sides have played 32 T20Is, where:

• India won 22 matches
• Sri Lanka won 9 matches
• 1 match had no result

A highlight for Sri Lanka came on 6th April 2014, when they defeated India in the ICC T20 World Cup Final.

 Sri Lanka has never won a T20I series against India.

1️⃣ First T20I

The first T20I was held on 10th February 2009 at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, where India won by 3 wickets.

 Tillakaratne Dilshan and Suresh Raina excelled with the bat, while Yusuf Pathan and C. Bandara took wickets.

2️⃣ Recent T20I

The latest T20I clash was on 30th July 2024 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, which ended in a super over. India emerged victorious after a thrilling finish.

 Shubman Gill and Wanindu Hasaranga shone with the bat, while Mahesh Theekshana, Rinku Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Ravi Bishnoi impressed with their bowling.

3️⃣ First Win on Each Other’s Soil

Sri Lanka won their first T20I in India on 9th December 2009 at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, defeating India by 29 runs.

 Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Angelo Mathews played key roles in the victory.

 India’s first T20I win in Sri Lanka came on 10th February 2009 at R Premadasa Stadium.

T20I Head-to-Head

DetailResultTotal Matches32Sri Lanka Wins9India Wins22No Result1

 Conclusion

The Sri Lanka vs India timeline demonstrates India’s dominance across all formats, but Sri Lanka has created memorable victories on big stages, including T20 World Cup Finals and landmark ODI series.

The rivalry continues to shape Sri Lankan cricket, challenging them to push their limits. With Asia Cup 2025 and ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, cricket fans can expect more thrilling encounters between these two iconic teams. India will aim to maintain its dominance, while Sri Lanka will look to build on its historic wins and showcase its best cricket on the global stage