India's cricket team will land in Colombo on August 4 to prepare for their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15 in Galle, according to RevSportz. Ahead of the first Test, India will engage in a four-day practice match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) beginning August 7.

The NCC ground, situated close to the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), will serve as the practice venue before the second Test, scheduled from August 23 to 27 at SSC. Once the practice match concludes, the Indian squad will relocate to Galle to gear up for the opening Test.

This series represents India’s first Test tour to Sri Lanka since their commanding 3-0 series sweep in 2017. India enters the contest following a strong performance against Afghanistan in early June, where they secured an innings victory. Conversely, Sri Lanka comes off a recent loss in their two-Test series against the West Indies.

Why this matters

Both teams are competing for vital points in the World Test Championship (WTC), with India currently fifth and Sri Lanka close behind at sixth in the standings. Every match from this point forward has significant implications for qualifying for the WTC final, intensifying the importance of this series.

The early arrival and scheduled practice match underscore India's focused approach to adapting to local conditions and maintaining momentum ahead of this high-stakes series.