India National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline: Key Matches, Milestones, and Rivalry Highlights

The cricket rivalry between the India national team and the Sri Lanka national team is one of the most exciting rivalries in sports. Both teams have a long history and have played many unforgettable games against each other. This article looks at their matches over time, highlighting important games, big wins, and how this rivalry has developed. Both teams have shown great skill, sportsmanship, and a strong desire to win, making their games must-watch events for cricket fans everywhere. The timeline also covers the key milestones, matches, and moments that have shaped the India vs. Sri Lanka cricket rivalry.

India National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline

Origins of the Rivalry

The India and Sri Lanka national cricket teams first faced each other in an official One Day International (ODI) match on June 16, 1979, during the ICC Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won this game easily, starting a rivalry that has only gotten fiercer over time.

Sri Lanka was given Test status in 1981, and their first Test match against India took place in Chennai in 1982. The match was drawn but this match marked the start of a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s cricket history.

Growth of Rivalry: 1990s

Cricket World Cup 1996: A Turning Point

The ICC Cricket World Cup 1996 was a key moment in the India-Sri Lanka rivalry. Hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, the tournament featured a semi-final clash between the two teams. Sri Lanka won this match and went on to win the World Cup, marking their rise as a major force in international cricket.

Bilateral Series and Tri-Nation Tournaments

In the 1990s, India and Sri Lanka played several series against each other and joined tri-nation tournaments with teams like Australia and Pakistan. These matches heated up the rivalry, with both teams showing off their cricket skills.

The 2000s: A Decade of Classic Encounters

ICC Champions Trophy 2002: Shared Glory

One of the standout moments in the India-Sri Lanka rivalry was the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, held in Sri Lanka. The final between the two teams was canceled twice due to rain, resulting in a shared trophy. This unusual outcome highlighted the competitive yet respectful nature of their rivalry.

Record-Breaking Performances

The 2000s also featured record-breaking performances in matches between India and Sri Lanka. A highlight was the epic 2009 ODI series where India’s Virender Sehwag scored a massive 146 runs in Rajkot, helping India chase down a record target of 414 runs.

The 2010s: Dominance and Iconic Matches

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Final

The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final stands out as one of the most memorable matches in the India-Sri Lanka rivalry. Held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India chased a target of 275 runs. Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene scored a century, but India, led by Gautam Gambhir’s 97 and MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 91, secured the win. This victory marked India’s second World Cup triumph and was a major highlight for Indian cricket.

Consistent Bilateral Series

During the 2010s, India and Sri Lanka played many series, with India often coming out on top. Series in 2017 and 2018 showcased India’s strength in both ODIs and T20Is, with players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma consistently performing well.

Historic Test Series

In 2017, India achieved a historic series win in Sri Lanka, winning all three Test matches. This was the first time India had whitewashed Sri Lanka in their own country, highlighting India’s dominance in Test cricket.

The 2020s: Renewed Rivalry and Emerging Stars

Emerging Stars and Competitive Spirit

In the 2020s, the India-Sri Lanka rivalry saw a fresh wave of competition, with both teams featuring new talent. Players like Shubman Gill for India and Wanindu Hasaranga for Sri Lanka have shown they could become stars in international cricket.

Limited Overs Success

India has continued to perform strongly against Sri Lanka in limited-overs cricket. Notably, India won both the ODI and T20I series during their 2021 tour of Sri Lanka, demonstrating their depth and skill even with several key players missing.

ICC Tournaments

The rivalry remains fierce in ICC tournaments, with both teams eager to prove themselves on the global stage. Matches between India and Sri Lanka in tournaments like the ICC T20 World Cup are always eagerly awaited and closely contested.

Key Players and Memorable Performances

Indian Cricket Legends

Indian cricket legends have made significant impacts in the India-Sri Lanka rivalry. Sachin Tendulkar has consistently troubled Sri Lanka with his centuries and match-winning performances. MS Dhoni’s leadership and finishing skills have also frequently swung the balance in India’s favor.

Sri Lankan Cricket Greats

Sri Lanka’s cricket legends have also made their mark on the rivalry. Players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Muttiah Muralitharan have delivered memorable performances against India, earning the admiration of cricket fans worldwide.

ICC Matches Between India and Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka have faced each other in several ICC tournaments, India has an  upper hand in ICC Tournament. Checkout below to know more about:

ODI ICC World Cup

Sri Lanka and India have faced off in 10 matches in ICC ODI World Cup tournaments. India has won 5 matches and Sri Lanka has won only 4 and 1 match was abandoned due to rain. The highest score for both Sri Lanka and India in these encounters is 378 runs. The lowest score posted by Sri Lanka is 55 runs, while India’s lowest is 120 runs in this marquee event. Whether it’s cricket satta or edge-of-your-seat action, India vs Sri Lanka rivalry never fails to excite fans.

ICC T20 World Cup

India and Sri Lanka have faced off only 2 times in the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka has dominated by winning both matches. In the T20 World Cup 2014 final, Sri Lanka beat India by 6 wickets and went on to win the title.

ICC Champions Trophy

In the ICC Champions Trophy, India and Sri Lanka have faced each other 3 times. Each team has won once, and one match was abandoned. The most memorable of these clashes is the 2002 Champions Trophy final. Under Saurav Ganguly’s captaincy, India-Sri Lanka shared the trophy because the match got abandoned due to rain.

India National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Stats

Tournament	Matches Played	India Won	Sri Lanka Won	Draw/Tie/No Result
ODI World Cup	10	05	04	01
T20 World Cup	02	00	02	00
Champions Trophy	03	01	01	01
World Test Championship	00	00	00	00
Total	15	06	07	02

IND vs SL Head-to-Head (Test)

Matches	India Wins	Sri Lanka Wins	D/T/NR
46	22	07	17

IND vs SL Head to Head (ODI)

Matches	India Wins	Sri Lanka Wins	Tied/NR
171	99	59	12

IND vs SL Head to Head (T20I)

Matches	India Wins	Sri Lanka Wins	Tied
32	22	09	01

IND vs SL Records (Test)

Most Runs in an Innings

Runs	Team	Venue	Year
952/6d	Sri Lanka	Colombo	1997
760/7d	Sri Lanka	Ahmedabad	2009
726/9d	India	Brabourne	2009

Fewest Runs in a Completed Innings

Runs	Team	Venue	Year
82	Sri Lanka	Chandigarh	1990
109	Sri Lanka	Bengaluru	2022
112	India	Galle	2015

Greatest Win

Margin	Winning Team	Venue	Year
Inns & 239 runs	Sri Lanka	Colombo	2008
Inns & 239 runs	India	Nagpur	2017
Inns & 222 runs	India	Mohali	2022

Smallest Victories

Margin	Winning Team	Venue	Year
63 Runs	Sri Lanka	Galle	2015
117 Runs	India	Colombo	2015
5 Wickets	India	Colombo	2010

Individual Records

Most Runs

Runs	Player	Span
1995	Sachin Tendulkar (IND)	1990-2010
1822	Mahela Jayawardene (SL)	1997-2010
1508	Rahul Dravid	1997-2010

Highest Individual Score

Runs	Player	Venue	Date
340	Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)	Colombo	02 Aug 1997
293	Virendra Sehwag (IND)	Brabourne	02 Dec 2009
275	Mahela Jayawardene (SL)	Ahmedabad	16 Nov 2009

Most Wickets

Wickets	Player	Matches	Bowling Average
105	Muthiah Muralidaran (SL)	22	32.61
74	Anil Kumble (IND)	18	31.20
62	Ravindrachandran Ashwin (IND)	11	21.93

Best Bowling Figures in an Innings

Bowling	Player	Venue	Date
8/87	Muthiah Muralidaran (SL)	Colombo	29 Aug 2001
7/48	Rangana Herath (SL)	Galle	12 Aug 2015
7/51	Maninder Singh (IND)	Nagpur	27 Dec 1986

IND vs SL Records (ODIs)

Highest Innings Total

Score	Team	Venue	Season
414/7	India	Rajkot	2009
411/8	Sri Lanka	Rajkot	2009
404/5	India	Eden Gardens	2014

Lowest Innings Total

Score	Team	Venue	Year
50	Sri Lanka	Colombo	2023
54	India	Sharjah	2000
55	Sri Lanka	Wankhede	2023

Largest Victory

Margin	Winning Team	Venue	Year
317 Runs	India	Thiruvananthapuram	2023
302 Runs	India	Wankhede	2023

 Smallest Victory

Margin	Winning Team	Venue	Year
1 Run	India	Colombo	1993
1 Wickets	India	Port of Spain	2013

Individual Most Career Runs

Runs	Player	Span
3113	Sachin Tendulakar (IND)	1990-2012
2899	Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)	1990-2009
2700	Kumar Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2014

Highest Individual Score

Runs	Player	Venue	Date
264	Rohit Sharma (IND)	Eden Gardens	13 Nov 2014
208*	Rohit Sharma (IND)	Mohali	13 Dec 2017
189	Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)	Sharjah	29 Oct 2000

Most Wickets in a Career

Wickets	Player	Matches	Bowling Average
74	Muthiah Muralidaran (SL)	63	31.78
70	Chaminda Vaas (SL)	61	31.61
66	Zaheer Khan (IND)	48	32.19

Best Bowling Figures

Bowling	Player	Venue	Date
7/30	Muthiah Muralidaran (SL)	Sharjah	27 Oct 2000
6/13	Ajantha Mendis (SL)	Karachi	06 Jul 2008
6/20	Angelo Mathews (SL)	Colombo	12 Sep 2009

IND vs SL Records (T20Is)

Highest Innings Total

Score	Team	Venue	Year
260/5	India	Indore	2017
228/5	India	Rajkot	2023
215/5	Sri Lanka	Nagpur	2009

Lowest Innings Total

Score	Team	Venue	Year
81/8	India	Colombo	2021
82/10	Sri Lanka	Visakhapatnam	2016
87/10	Sri Lanka	Cuttack	2017

Most Career Runs

Runs	Player	Span
430	Dasun Shanaka (SL)	2016-2023
411	Rohit Sharma (IND)	2009-2022
375	Shikhar Dhawan (IND)	2016-2021

Highest Individual Score

Runs	Player	Venue	Date
118	Rohit Sharma	Indore	22 Dec 2017
112*	Suryakumar Yadav	Rajkot	07 Jan 2023
90	Shikhar Dhawan	Colombo	06 Mar 2018

 Most Wickets in a Career

Wickets	Player	Matches	Economy
23	Yuzvendra Chahal (IND)	13	8.48
16	Dushmantha Chameera (SL)	15	7.90
14	R Ashwin (IND)	14	5.36

Best Bowling Figures

Bowling	Player	Venue	Date
4/8	R Ashwin (IND)	Visakhapatnam	14 Feb 2016
4/9	Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)	Colombo	29 Jul 2021
4/19	Ashok Dinda (IND)	Pallekele	07 Aug 2012

Looking ahead, the cricket rivalry between India and Sri Lanka has shifted towards Indian dominance. Until 2011, their rivalry was one of the most intense in cricket, featuring memorable matchups like Muralidaran vs. Sachin, Zaheer vs. Sanath Jayasuriya, and Kumar Sangakkara vs. Anil Kumble. We hope to see this fierce competition return in the future. With passionate players, dedicated fans, and the unpredictable nature of the game, this rivalry is set to keep growing. As cricket evolves, we can expect even more exciting moments to be added to this thrilling rivalry.

This India vs. Sri Lanka timeline not only traces the history of their matches but also celebrates the spirit of cricket—a sport that unites nations, fans, and players with a shared love for the game.

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