One of the most exciting and iconic in cricket history is the India National Cricket Team and Sri Lanka National Cricket Team conflict. Over four decades of rivalry have seen many memorable performances, unforgettable events, and close-quarters encounters. Let’s review their head-to—-conflicts chronology from 1974 to 2024.
Under the framework of the Prudential Trophy, Sri Lanka and India’s first official encounter took place on July 16, 1974, in the context of a One-Day International (ODI) game at Manchester. Though at this time Sri Lanka was not a Test-playing country, their early games showed promise and set the stage for a developing rivalry.
1982–1983 India Tour of Sri Lanka (First Test Series)
This was Sri Lanka’s maiden Test cricket appearance; India was the first team they tested against. India won the Test series 1-0 and the ODI series 3-0, hence the tour was one-sided in their advantage. The two teams’ growing rivalry started on this series’ stage.
1996 – Quarter-final Cricket World Cup
A major event in the series was the 1996 Cricket World Cup quarterfinal. By 8 wickets, Sri Lanka proved their rising international cricket ability over India. For Sri Lanka, the victory proved to be a turning point and helped them to become a formidable team.
An additional important addition to the rivalry was the 1997–98 Test series. India lost the second-1 series, however, the closely contested games mirrored the competitiveness of both sides. The great performances from both sides in the series increased the intensity of the competition.
India winning 2-1 made the 2001 Test series an unforgettable one. Players like Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan gave brilliantly scintillating performances in the series. For those who enjoy cricket, the closely contested matches stoked even more competitiveness and made this event absolutely a must-watch.
The final Cricket World Cup game in the rivalry was among the best ones. India triumphantly won the trophy for the first time by 23 runs over Sri Lanka. The game was a nerve-wracking encounter, with both sides showcasing superb cricket. India’s victory turned the contest in a fresh direction and was a record-breaking one.
In the final of the 2010 Asia Cup, India triumphed, beating Sri Lanka by 81 runs. This triumph showed India’s dominance in the area and added still another feather to their cap. Excellent effort by Indian players like Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni defined the game.
Still another historic event between the two countries, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was nearing to finish. India defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to secure its second World Cup. Played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, the game saw outstanding performances by MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, and Mahela Jayawardene. For India, it was a turning point and added to the rich legacy of this rivalry.
An historic event was India’s triumph in the 2015 Test series in Sri Lanka. India broke a 22-year series-winning skid in Sri Lanka by winning 2-1. Great performances by players like Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin included in the series helped to further establish India as a potent team.
Given India demolished the hosts 5-0, the 2017 ODI series in Sri Lanka was historical. This clear win sign of India’s strength and depth in limited-overs cricket. Highlights of the series were stars from players like Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma.
The 2018 Nidahas Trophy final was an interesting game. Dinesh Karthik’s six on the penultimate ball helped India upset Sri Lanka. Both teams left everything on the field, hence the game turned out as a thriller. India’s victory in such a spectacular way opened another chapter of rivalry memories.
India visited Sri Lanka for a set of ODIs and T20s in 2021. India defeated the ODI series 2-1, while Sri Lanka defeated the T20 series 2-1. The closely fought games highlighted the teams’ competitive nature and quality.
As Sri Lanka won their first bilateral ODI against India in 27 years, the 2024 ODI series in that country was a historic event. The two best efforts were from Avishka Fernando’s 96 and Dunith Wellalage’s five-wicket haul. For Sri Lanka, the series triumph was a great success that fuelled competition.
India defeated Sri Lanka in the group level of the 2024 Asia Cup in order to make it to the finals. The game was a closely fought struggle in which both teams displayed extraordinary will and ability. India’s victory confirmed their ability in regional contests and generated yet another nostalgic memory of the rivalry.
Here is a comprehensive Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline:
| Year | Event/Series | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | First Official Match | The first official match between India and Sri Lanka took place during a One-Day International (ODI) match at Manchester as part of the Prudential Trophy. Sri Lanka showed promise in their early encounters. |
| 1982-83 | India Tour of Sri Lanka (First Test Series) | Sri Lanka’s debut in Test cricket. India won the Test series 1-0 and the ODI series 3-0. |
| 1996 | Cricket World Cup Quarter-Final | Sri Lanka defeated India by 8 wickets. |
| 1997-98 | Test Series | India won the series 2-1. |
| 2001 | Test Series | India won the series 2-1. |
| 2007 | Cricket World Cup Final | India defeated Sri Lanka by 23 runs to lift the trophy for the first time. |
| 2010 | Asia Cup Final | India won by 81 runs, becoming champions. |
| 2011 | ICC Cricket World Cup Final | India defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to win their second World Cup. |
| 2015 | Test Series in Sri Lanka | India won the series 2-1, ending a 22-year series win drought in Sri Lanka. |
| 2017 | ODI Series in Sri Lanka | India achieved a historic 5-0 whitewash. |
| 2018 | Nidahas Trophy Final | India won a thrilling final against Sri Lanka with a last-ball six by Dinesh Karthik. |
| 2021 | ODI and T20 Series in Sri Lanka | India won the ODI series 2-1; Sri Lanka won the T20 series 2-1. |
| 2024 | ODI Series in Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka secured their first bilateral ODI win in 27 years. Key performances included Avishka Fernando’s 96 and Dunith Wellalage’s five-wicket haul. |
| 2024 | Asia Cup Group Stage | India defeated Sri Lanka in the group stage match to advance to the finals. |
A monument to the sporting rivalry and love of cricket of both nations is the India National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. Over the years, the rivalry has made a major contribution to international cricket history and provided countless exciting events for supporters. Given both teams are still developing, the future holds much more to excite.
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