India bat first in 600th Test at Galle; Padikkal, Kuldeep in, Nuwantha debuts
Synopsis
India's 600th Test match, Galle's 50th as a host, and the country's 80th Independence Day — all converging on one fixture. Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bat, but Sri Lanka's debutant Keshara Nuwantha already has the scalps of Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant from the warm-up. The opening session could define the contest.
Key Takeaways
Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle on 15 August 2025 .
The match is India's 600th Test , played on the country's 80th Independence Day , and Galle's 50th Test as a venue.
Devdutt Padikkal comes in at number three, replacing B Sai Sudharsan ; Ravindra Jadeja returns alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar .
Sri Lanka debutant Keshara Nuwantha dismissed Gill , KL Rahul , and Rishabh Pant in the warm-up game.
Nishan Madushka replaces Pathum Nissanka ; Niroshan Dickwella keeps wicket in the absence of Kusal Mendis .
Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bat first against Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on 15 August 2025, a day layered with significance — India's 80th Independence Day, the team's 600th Test match, and Galle's own 50th Test as a host venue.
India's Playing XI and Selection Calls
Devdutt Padikkal comes in at number three, replacing B Sai Sudharsan in what is a notable selection shift. Ravindra Jadeja returns to the side and will form a three-pronged spin attack alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar. The pace department is handled by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, giving India five specialist bowlers in all.
The full India XI reads: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
Sri Lanka Hand Nuwantha His Debut
Sri Lanka have given off-spin bowling all-rounder Keshara Nuwantha his Test debut. Nuwantha impressed in the three-day warm-up game at the NCC Ground in Colombo, where he dismissed Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant — three of India's most pivotal batters.
Nishan Madushka also comes into the Sri Lanka XI in place of Pathum Nissanka, while Niroshan Dickwella takes the gloves in the absence of regular keeper Kusal Mendis. Sri Lanka's XI: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, and Asitha Fernando.
What the Captains Said
India captain Gill acknowledged the weight of the occasion at the toss: 'Very big honour for me, every time you get an opportunity to lead your country, and even more so special on this occasion. Independence Day for us and 600th Test match, so looking forward.' He described the pitch as 'a good wicket' and noted favourable weather conditions.
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva said he would have preferred to bat as well, describing the surface as 'quite dry.' He confirmed his side's combination of two fast bowlers, two spinners, and two all-rounders — including himself and Sonal Dinusha — and called Galle 'an iconic ground.'
The Milestones at Stake
The confluence of records makes this fixture rare even by Test cricket's standards. Galle International Cricket Stadium hosting its 50th Test, India playing its 600th, and the match falling on India's Independence Day — these are markers that will outlast the scorecard. Notably, India have a strong record at Galle in recent years, making the toss decision to bat first consistent with their approach on spin-friendly surfaces in the subcontinent.
With Sri Lanka's debutant already having the measure of India's top order from the warm-up, the opening session will be closely watched to see whether Nuwantha can translate that promise to the Test arena.
Point of View
But it is Nuwantha's inclusion that carries the sharper edge. A debutant who has already dismissed three of India's top-five in a warm-up is not a throwaway pick — Sri Lanka are banking on the element of novelty against batters who have limited exposure to him. India's three-spinner combination also tells its own story: Gill and the selectors expect the Galle surface to deteriorate, and they want the firepower to exploit it. The real subplot is whether Dhruv Jurel, batting at seven, gives India enough lower-order depth if the top order is unsettled early by Nuwantha.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of India's Test match at Galle on 15 August 2025?
The match is India's 600th Test in history, played on the country's 80th Independence Day, and also marks the Galle International Cricket Stadium's 50th Test as a host venue — a rare convergence of milestones in a single fixture.
Why was Devdutt Padikkal picked over B Sai Sudharsan?
Devdutt Padikkal has been selected at number three in place of B Sai Sudharsan for the Galle Test. The selectors have not publicly detailed the reasoning, but Padikkal's left-hand batting provides a different dimension to the middle order on a spin-friendly surface.
Who is Keshara Nuwantha and why is his debut significant?
Keshara Nuwantha is a Sri Lankan off-spin bowling all-rounder making his Test debut at Galle. He dismissed Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant in the three-day warm-up game in Colombo, making him a credible early threat to India's top order.
What is India's bowling combination for the Galle Test?
India have gone with five bowlers — two pacers in Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, and three spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Manav Suthar — reflecting an expectation that the Galle pitch will assist spin as the match progresses.
Who is keeping wicket for Sri Lanka in the absence of Kusal Mendis?
Niroshan Dickwella is keeping wicket for Sri Lanka in this Test, stepping in for the regular keeper Kusal Mendis who is unavailable for the match.
