Galle, Colombo to host India in August Test series. Sri Lanka announces schedule |

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Sri Lanka Cricket on Thursday confirmed that Galle and Colombo will host India’s two-Test series in August. The first Test will be played at the Galle International Stadium from August 15 to 19, while the second will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23 to 27.

The two-match series is an important assignment for India in the World Test Championship cycle. Sri Lanka has often been a difficult place for visiting teams, although India enjoyed success on their last two tours of the island nation, sweeping the hosts 3-0 in 2017 and recovering to win 2-1 in a three-match series in 2015.

The young Indian side led by Shubman Gill is set to face a stern challenge, especially given the difficulties Indian batters have had against quality spin. Under Gill, India began the ongoing World Test Championship cycle with a 2-2 draw in England and followed it with a 2-0 series win over the touring West Indies. However, a 2-0 home defeat to South Africa last year dented their chances of reaching the WTC final.

India played a one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh in June, but that was not part of the Test Championship.

India are currently fifth in the standings with four wins and four defeats. They head to Sri Lanka before two more demanding assignments, a two-Test tour of New Zealand in November and a five-match Border-Gavaskar series at home against Australia early next year.

Some of India’s Test regulars, including Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel, are already in Sri Lanka, where they are playing unofficial Test matches for India A. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, suffered an innings defeat to the West Indies in the first Test of their two-match series in Antigua and will look to bounce back in the second Test, which begins on July 3.