3 batters to watch out for in SL vs IND 1st Test

The first Test of a two-match series between Sri Lanka and India gets underway at the Galle International Stadium on August 15, 2026. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with India currently placed fifth in the standings, holding 52 points and a points percentage of 48.15 after nine Tests.

Both sides carry notable storylines into the match. Sri Lanka will be without Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka for the first Test, while India are led by a captain chasing a significant personal milestone. With the second Test scheduled at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on August 23, 2026, the Galle contest sets the tone for the series.

3. Kamindu Mendis

Kamindu Mendis serves as vice-captain of Sri Lanka’s 16-member squad, which was named on August 12, 2026, under the captaincy of Dhananjaya de Silva. Playing at home in Galle, where the conditions are familiar, Mendis carries added responsibility given the absence of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka from the Sri Lanka lineup.

As a left-handed batter who is comfortable against both pace and spin, Kamindu Mendis will be central to Sri Lanka’s batting effort in the first Test. His role as deputy captain also places him in a position of leadership within the team, and his performance with the bat could be a defining factor in how Sri Lanka compete against a well-organised Indian side. The southpaw has scored 1,453 runs in 16 Tests at an average of 58.12.

2. Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is one of the most influential wicketkeeper-batters in Test cricket and a key figure in India’s middle order. His ability to accelerate the scoring rate and shift momentum makes him a vital presence at Galle, where the pitch traditionally assists spin bowlers. Pant’s aggressive approach has consistently put pressure on opposition bowling attacks in Test cricket.

His record in Asian conditions and his capacity to build partnerships or rescue innings from difficult positions make him a batter to watch closely in this series. With Sri Lanka missing two of their senior batters, India’s middle order, anchored by Pant, could prove decisive in setting or chasing competitive totals across both Tests.

1. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill captains India in this series and arrives at Galle in strong recent form. Across his last eight Tests, he has accumulated 950 runs at an average of 79.16 and a strike rate of 64.89. In the longer WTC context, Gill has scored 2,969 runs in 40 Tests at an average of 44.31, with 11 hundreds and 8 fifties. He is also India’s leading run-scorer in WTC history since the tournament began in 2019.

Also Read: 3 player battles to watch out for in SL vs IND 1st Test

A notable milestone is within reach for Gill in this Test. He needs 157 more runs to become the first Indian to reach 3,000 WTC runs, which would also make him the 10th player overall to achieve that mark. Gill previously scored 147 in his debut innings as India Test captain against England at Leeds in June 2025, the second-highest score by an Indian in his first Test as captain.