Introduction to 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 storied in international cricket. Spanning over four decades, their encounters have produced unforgettable moments, record-breaking performances, and have played a pivotal role in shaping the cricketing landscape of the subcontinent. This article explores the detailed timeline of their rivalry, highlighting key matches, series, and memorable events, and provides a comprehensive table of their head-to-head encounters across formats.
India and Sri Lanka first faced each other in a Test series in 1985, marking the beginning of a long-standing cricketing relationship. Over the decades, both teams have evolved, with India becoming a global powerhouse and Sri Lanka emerging as a team capable of producing match-winning performances on any given day. Their encounters have often been decisive in major tournaments like the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup, and Asia Cup.
This article provides a comprehensive timeline of matches played between the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and the India National Cricket Team, covering all three formats — ODI, T20 International, and Test Matches. Each format will be detailed in a table format that includes match dates, venues, results, and key highlights.
ODI Series Timeline
Overview of ODI Encounters
The One Day International (ODI) format has seen numerous memorable clashes between India and Sri Lanka. With over 100 ODIs played between them, this rivalry has featured high-scoring games, nail-biting finishes, and some of the greatest batsmen and bowlers in cricket history.
Below is a detailed table of ODI matches between the two teams:
| Date | Venue | Result | Highlights |
| 1987-03-26 | Ahmedabad, India | India won by 8 wickets | First-ever ODI between the two nations |
| 1994-04-17 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 6 runs | Aravinda de Silva’s 88-ball 95 |
| 1996-03-04 | Lahore, Pakistan | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets | Historic win in the 1996 Cricket World Cup final |
| 1997-04-13 | Sharjah, UAE | India won by 10 wickets | Sachin Tendulkar’s 97* off 85 balls |
| 2005-04-02 | Karachi, Pakistan | India won by 7 wickets | MS Dhoni’s debut ODI half-century |
| 2009-07-26 | Cardiff, England | Sri Lanka won by 100 runs | Chamara Kapugedera’s 72; Harbhajan Singh took 4/46 |
| 2010-02-25 | Mirpur, Bangladesh | India won by 7 wickets | Yuvraj Singh’s 73; MS Dhoni finishes chase |
| 2011-03-19 | Mumbai, India | India won by 4 wickets | World Cup 2011 Final: Gautam Gambhir 97, MS Dhoni 91* |
| 2014-12-10 | Mohali, India | India won by 6 wickets | Shikhar Dhawan 110; Ravindra Jadeja takes 4/41 |
| 2016-01-15 | Cuttack, India | India won by 9 wickets | Virat Kohli scores 166* |
| 2018-07-24 | The Oval, England | India won by 8 wickets | Rohit Sharma 111, MS Dhoni finishes 11 |
| 2023-01-10 | Guwahati, India | India won by 67 runs | KL Rahul 97, Shardul Thakur 4/29 |
| 2023-01-12 | Kolkata, India | India won by 31 runs | Shubman Gill 70, Jasprit Bumrah 3/30 |
| 2023-01-15 | Pune, India | India won by 318 runs | Record margin of victory; Shubman Gill 208* |
T20 International Series Timeline
Overview of T20I Encounters
The T20 International format has added a new dimension to the India vs Sri Lanka rivalry. Since the introduction of T20 cricket, these teams have faced off in several bilateral series and ICC events. With explosive batting and strategic bowling, their T20 meetings are always eagerly anticipated.
Here is a detailed table of T20I matches between India and Sri Lanka:
| Date | Venue | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-05-24 | Manchester, England | India won by 5 wickets | First-ever T20I between the two sides |
| 2012-09-21 | Hambantota, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets | Lasith Malinga takes 2/17; Mahela Jayawardene 42 |
| 2014-03-27 | Dhaka, Bangladesh | India won by 6 wickets | Suresh Raina hits 36 off 20 balls |
| 2016-01-06 | Delhi, India | India won by 6 wickets | MS Dhoni finishes with an unbeaten 28 |
| 2016-01-08 | Rajkot, India | Sri Lanka won by 17 runs | Dinesh Chandimal 52, Lasith Malinga 3/18 |
| 2017-12-22 | Eden Gardens, India | India won by 36 runs | Virat Kohli 59*, Hardik Pandya 31 |
| 2017-12-24 | Indore, India | India won by 7 wickets | MS Dhoni 38*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/24 |
| 2023-07-28 | Lucknow, India | India won by 5 wickets | Ishan Kishan 49, Suryakumar Yadav 36 |
| 2023-07-30 | Rajkot, India | India won by 8 wickets | Ruturaj Gaikwad 64, Hardik Pandya 3/23 |
| 2023-08-03 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 16 runs | Charith Asalanka 44, Dasun Shanaka 38 |
| 2023-08-06 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 14 runs | Pathum Nissanka 50, Wanindu Hasaranga 3/15 |
| 2023-08-09 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | India won by 5 wickets | Virat Kohli 51*, Hardik Pandya 25 |
Test Match Series Timeline
Overview of Test Encounters
The Test series between India and Sri Lanka have historically been marked by intense battles, especially on turning pitches where spinners dominate. These matches have often tested the patience and technique of batters and provided classic examples of Test cricket at its best.
Below is a comprehensive table of Test matches between the two teams:
| Date | Venue | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-09-13 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Draw | First-ever Test series between the teams |
| 1985-09-27 | Kandy, Sri Lanka | Draw | Dilip Doshi takes 4/126 |
| 1993-02-12 | Madras, India | India won by 10 wickets | Anil Kumble takes 5/91 |
| 1993-02-26 | Calcutta, India | India won by 10 wickets | Kapil Dev 4/35 |
| 1994-04-08 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets | Arjuna Ranatunga’s 102; Laxman Sivaramakrishnan 4/97 |
| 1994-04-22 | Moratuwa, Sri Lanka | Draw | Muttiah Muralitharan makes Test debut |
| 2009-07-29 | Galle, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets | Murali 6/58 |
| 2010-02-13 | Nagpur, India | India won by an innings and 217 runs | Zaheer Khan 5/73 |
| 2015-08-02 | Galle, Sri Lanka | India won by 134 runs | Ravichandran Ashwin 5/169 |
| 2015-08-11 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | India won by 108 runs | Ravindra Jadeja 4/43 |
| 2017-11-16 | Galle, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 208 runs | Dimuth Karunaratne 152; Ravichandran Ashwin 4/124 |
| 2017-11-24 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Draw | Virat Kohli scores 171 |
| 2022-07-12 | Galle, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 238 runs | India collapses twice; Prabath Jayasuriya debuts with 5/61 |
| 2022-07-20 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets | Spin trio of Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Dunith Wellalage dominates |
| 2023-11-12 | Mohali, India | India won by an innings and 280 runs | Ravichandran Ashwin 5/77 |
| 2023-11-22 | Bengaluru, India | India won by an innings and 145 runs | Axar Patel 5/31 |
Head-to-Head Statistics Across Formats
Comparative Performance
To understand the balance of power between India and Sri Lanka across formats, here is a summary of head-to-head statistics:
| Format | Matches Played | India Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | No Results/Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 152 | 96 | 54 | 2 |
| T20 Internationals | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 |
| Test Matches | 52 | 20 | 11 | 21 |
India holds a significant edge in all formats, particularly in ODIs and T20Is. However, Sri Lanka has shown resilience in Tests, especially at home in Sri Lanka where they have traditionally dominated due to spinning conditions.
Memorable Moments and Iconic Players
Legendary Performances
Several players have etched their names into history through outstanding performances in India vs Sri Lanka matches:
- Sachin Tendulkar: Scored multiple centuries against Sri Lanka, including a memorable 97 in the 1996 World Cup semi-final.
- Muttiah Muralitharan: Took 162 wickets in 42 Tests and 120 wickets in 102 ODIs against India.
- MS Dhoni: Delivered crucial finishes in chases, including the 2011 World Cup Final.
- Virat Kohli: Holds the record for highest individual score in ODIs (183*) against Pakistan but also
- scored big hundreds against Sri Lanka.
- Lasith Malinga: Took 25 wickets in 32 T20Is and was instrumental in many Sri Lankan wins.
Conclusion
The rivalry between the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and the India National Cricket Team is one of the longest-running and most storied in international cricket. Whether it’s the drama of Test matches, the thrill of ODIs, or the fireworks of T20Is, these two teams have consistently delivered unforgettable moments.
From historic World Cup finals to low-scoring thrillers and record-breaking performances, the India vs Sri Lanka fixtures continue to captivate fans globally. As both teams evolve with new generations of players, this rivalry promises to remain a cornerstone of cricket for years to come.
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