Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs. India National Cricket Team Timeline
Explore the historic rivalry between Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs. India National Cricket Team Timeline—key matches, and their thrilling 2025 T20I clash.
One of the most interesting rivalries in International Cricket happens to be that played through the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team against the Indian National Cricket Team. The two teams have over the years given exciting matches of all types of series (Test, One Day International (ODIs), and T20I). The paper evaluates the history of their meetings, the most important events, memorable games, and the last confrontation that happened in 2025.
Early Encounters (1979–1990)
Sri Lanka was awarded test status in 1981 and their first official match was with India in 1979 during the world cup. But initially the encounters mostly tilted in one sided pitches with India winning because of their comparatively more experienced team.
- June 16 1979 (ODI World Cup): India beat Sri Lanka by 47 runs.
- September 17, 1982 (First Test Match): The first Test between the two sides was played in Chennai which resulted in the draw.
- 1985 (Asia Cup) Sri Lanka made their first significant victory against India in Sharjah.
Rise of Sri Lanka (1990–2000)
Sri Lanka became a cricketing giant in the 1990s, due to personalities such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya.
- ODI World Cup of 1996 (Semifinal): India was defeated by Sri Lanka by default after the crowd of Kolkata (in a match awarded to them due to crowd violence) lost in the Semi-Final.
- Test Series (India Tour of Sri Lanka) 1997; Sri Lanka won first test series with India (1-0).
- 1998 (Asia Cup Final): India found itself in a thriller match which it won by 6 runs.
The Golden Era of Rivalry (2000–2010)
This 2000s decade witnessed the rise of such iconic players as Sachin Tendulkar, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, and MS Dhoni, taking the rivalry to the new level.
- 2007 ODI World Cup: In a group match India lost to Sri Lanka by 69 runs.
- 2008 (Final of Asia Cup): 100 run win by Sri Lanka.
- 2010 (Tri-Series Final): Virat Kohli scored a hundred as India successfully ran down in a run-chase of 299.
Modern-Day Battles (2011–2024)
That competition grew with the entry of T20 cricket.
The World Cup Final 2011 ODI
- One of the famous games ever in the history of cricket.
- India scored 275 and Gautam Gambhir (97) and MS Dhoni (91*) gave the lead.
- India reached the world cup securing 6 wickets and won their second world cup.
2014 T20 World Cup Final of Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs. India National Cricket Team Timeline
- Sri Lanka was able to win an ICC trophy after all as they beat India via a 6 wicket margin.
- It was won thanks to an unbeaten 52 by Kumar Sangakkara.
2017 (Test Series – India’s Dominance)
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 3-0 in Tests.
- Virat Kohli managed to make a pair of double hundreds.
2023 Asia Cup Final
- India thrashed Sri Lanka in a lopsided final and bowled them out at a paltry 50 runs.
- Mohammed Siraj recorded the best figures by an Indian bowler against Sri Lanka in ODI as he took 6/21.
The 2025 Clash: India vs Sri Lanka (T20I Series)
The most recent matchup between the two sides was in July 2025 a three-game T20I series, in Colombo.
1st T20I (July 20, 2025 – Colombo)
- Sri Lanka was the winner by 12 runs
- SL: 68/1 (Kusal Mendis 45)
- IND: 173/8 (Suryakumar Yadav 62 runs, Suryakumar Yadav 34 runs)
- The wickets of Wanindu Hasaranga were 3/24
2nd T20I (July 22, 2025 – Colombo)
- India defeated it by 7 wickets
- SL: 160/8 (Charith Asalanka 55, Bumrah 3/20 )
- IND: 164/3 (Shubman Gill 72, Ishan Kishan 48)
3rd T20I (July 24, 2025 – Colombo)
- India had a 5 wickets win (Series 2-1)
- SL: 178/5 (60* Dasun Shanaka, 2/30 Arshdeep singh)
- IND: 182/5(Rinku Singh 45*, Ravi Bishnoi 2/28)
- This was a last-ball thriller game in which India successfully pursued the target with Rinku Singh scoring the winning runs.
Key Stats and Records of Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs. India National Cricket Team Timeline
Head-to-Head (as of 2025)
| Format | Matches | India Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | Tied/NR |
| Test | 46 | 22 | 7 | 17 |
| ODI | 165 | 97 | 57 | 11 |
| T20I | 29 | 19 | 9 | 1 |
Highest Run-Scorers of Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs. India National Cricket Team Timeline
- India: Sachin Tendulkar (3,113 runs)
- Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (2,973 runs)
Highest Wicket-Takers
- India: Zaheer Khan (66 wickets)
- Sri Lanka: Muttiah Muralitharan (74 wickets)
Conclusion of Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs. India National Cricket Team Timeline
The India Sri Lanka cricket rivalry has grown through the decades of time making memorable moments. India has been consistent over the last few years, but Sri Lanka also continues to be a team to reckon with, at least at home. The 2025 T20I was also another series of intense rivalry between the two teams as India edged the series by a slim margin.
The audiences should look forward to exciting games in the future as the teams continue to breed younger hacks. Ability to give one of the highlights on the cricket calendar, India vs Sri Lanka matches will be the same whether played in Test, ODIis or T20Is. If you want to download the reel of Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs. India National Cricket Team Timeline on instagram use it.
