The competition between India and Sri Lanka is one of the most interesting episodes in Asian cricket history. The two teams have played against each other over the decades in all three formats of the game, Test, ODI, and T20I, with many exciting matches being witnessed. Whether it is a high-intensity World Cup match or a tense bilateral series, their encounters have been full of outstanding displays, memorable incidents, and an enthusiastic crowd.
The rivalry between the two countries has not only defined their cricketing paths but has also made an indelible impression on the world cricket arena. This Sri Lanka national cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline reflects the evolution of a rivalry that continues to excite fans worldwide.
Origins of the Rivalry
The competition between the India national cricket team and the Sri Lanka national cricket team dates back to July 16, 1974, when the two teams met in an official One-Day International match in the Prudential Trophy in Manchester- India won and the story of a great cricketing rivalry began.
During the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s, Sri Lanka was an associate member with few opportunities in the world arena. This was radically altered in July 1981 when Sri Lanka became a full-fledged Test member of the ICC.
They played their first Test series the very following year, in 1982, against India. India emerged with a 1-0 series win but Sri Lanka showed their fight as they earned draws in several matches.
The initial successes of Sri Lanka were achieved in the mid-1980s, in 1985 they won their first ODI series against India in the Rothmans Trophy, and declared their emergence as a competitive team in the region.
Collectively, these initial interactions set the stage in the fierce competition that has drawn fans of cricket across the world to this day.
Key Moments in ODI Cricket Timeline
The ODI rivalry between the Sri Lanka national cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline is defined by drama, high stakes, and classic performances. Both teams have provided fans with memorable matches in the Asia Cup and the World Cup tournaments and this has cut across generations.
India easily won the 2011 World Cup final by a six-wicket margin against Sri Lanka to win the trophy at home, and the 1996 World Cup semi-final in Eden Gardens is famous as Sri Lanka edged out a victory as fans threw objects off the stands when the crowd turned violent.
Superstars have made an impression. The firecracker batting of Sanath Jayasuriya redefined the ODI opening batsmen; his 189 against India in Sharjah (2000) is one of the most dominant innings of all time. On the Indian side, Virat Kohli has had a long history of centuries in bilateral series, and especially the crushing 2014-15 tour of India where he scored 329 runs, to lead that series.
Together, these moments highlight a rivalry rich in tournament drama and individual brilliance key threads in the broader Sri Lanka national cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline.
ODI Head-to-Head Summary
| Format | Matches Played | India Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | No Result | Win % (India) | Win % (SL) |
| ODI | 170 | 99 | 58 | 11 | 63.4 % | 34.1 % |
Test Cricket Encounters
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline in Test cricket began with their inaugural series in 1982–83, which ended in a 0–0 draw during India’s tour of Sri Lanka cricket matches in India. A turning point was the 1985 series, when Sri Lanka won their first-ever Test series on home soil, beating India, 1-0 in a three-match series.
Among the most memorable was the one that occurred in 1997, when Sri Lanka racked up an all-time high of 952/6 declared in Colombo, with Sanath Jayasuriya scoring a mammoth 340, a high-scoring draw that will reverberate through cricketing history. No less dramatic was the 2010 series in Sri Lanka, in which India chased down a fourth innings total of 257, with VVS Laxman scoring an unbeaten 103 under pressure.
As far as the overall result is concerned, India have won 22, Sri Lanka 7, and there have been 17 draws during the course of more than 46 Test matches, which indicates the superiority of India but also the intense competitiveness of this rivalry.
Test Series Results
| Year | Host | Matches | Winner | Notable Performers |
| 1986–87 | India | 3 | India (2–0) | Dilip Vengsarkar (most runs), Maninder Singh (most wickets) |
| 1997 | Sri Lanka | 2 | Draw (0–0) | Sanath Jayasuriya’s record 952/6 total; Jayasuriya (571 runs), Muralitharan (9 wickets) |
| 2008 | Sri Lanka | 3 | Sri Lanka (2–1) | Mahela Jayawardene (279 runs), Ajantha Mendis (26 wickets) |
| 2015 | Sri Lanka | 3 | India (2–1) | Virat Kohli (most runs for India), Angelo Mathews (339 runs for SL), Ravichandran Ashwin (21 wickets) |
| 2021–22 | India | 2 | India (2–0) | Ravindra Jadeja (201 runs), Ashwin (12 wickets), Rishabh Pant (Player of Series) |
T20I Timeline Highlights
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline in T20Is got underway with their first official meeting on 20 December 2017 at Cuttack India won by a commanding 93 runs in that inaugural T20I clash.
One of the most important encounters took place in the 2014 final when Sri Lanka beat India by six wickets to win their first T20 World Cup on April 6, 2014 in Dhaka in high-stakes ICC T20 World Cup action.
This rivalry has also been characterized by individual brilliance. One of the most jaw-dropping T20 innings was the 118 off 43 balls by Rohit Sharma against Sri Lanka in a match played in 2017 (usually quoted as the second T20I in Indore).
In the meantime, the Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga is renowned to have taken 4 wickets in 4 balls, although this was against New Zealand, it shows the type of T20 magic that is synonymous with Sri Lankan fast bowlers.
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Statistical Records & Rivalry Milestones
In the storied rivalry of the Sri Lanka national cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline, certain players and partnerships have etched their names in history. In ODI, Sachin Tendulkar leads the run table with 3,113 runs in 84 games and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka is next with 2,899 runs. Muttiah Muralitharan heads the wicket taking brigade with 74 ODI wickets followed by Zaheer Khan with 66 wickets to his name.
There is one stand-out record partnership: Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid added a colossal 318 runs in the second wicket in the 1999 World Cup.
In Tests, Muralitharan once more leads the pack with a mind boggling 105 wickets against India-way ahead of the leading Indian bowler, Anil Kumble, with 74 wickets.
Regarding leadership, MS Dhoni has most ODI wins as captain in this rivalry, winning 25 matches in 41 matches.
All-Format Top Performers
| Category | Player | Country | Record | Year/Achieved |
| Most ODI Runs | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 3,113 runs in 84 ODIs against SL | – |
| Most ODI Runs (SL) | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 2,899 runs in ODIs vs India | – |
| Most ODI Wickets (overall) | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 74 wickets vs India | – |
| Most ODI Wickets (India) | Zaheer Khan | India | 66 wickets vs Sri Lanka | – |
| Highest ODI Partnership | Ganguly & Dravid | India | 318 for 2nd wicket (World Cup, 1999) | 1999 (Taunton) |
| Most Test Wickets vs Opponent | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 105 wickets vs India | – |
| Most Test Wickets (India) | Anil Kumble | India | 74 wickets vs Sri Lanka | – |
| Most ODI Wins as Captain | MS Dhoni | India | 25 wins in 41 matches vs Sri Lanka | – |
Final Word
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline is a testament to decades of competitive spirit, legendary performances, and unforgettable cricketing moments. This rivalry has produced drama and excitement in World Cup finals that have gone down in history as well as individual performances that have been record-breaking. Other than the statistics, it has also boosted the presence of Asian cricket in the international platform, which has motivated several generations of players and fans. As the two teams continue to grow, their encounters will continue to be a show of the sport.
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