India's predicted playing 11 for the 1st Test vs Sri Lanka 2026

Middle Order: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Saransh Jain/Sarfaraz Khan

Shubman Gill captains India in this series and is expected to bat at number four. Gill suffered a finger injury during training in Colombo and missed part of the warm-up fixture initially, but he returned to batting and was described as very much ready for the first Test. His leadership role adds responsibility to his batting, and he will be central to India's plans both on and off the field at Galle.

Rishabh Pant is predicted to keep wicket and bat at number five. Pant's aggressive batting style and ability to accelerate the scoring rate make him a vital component of India's middle order in Test cricket. His wicketkeeping behind the stumps on a turning Galle surface will also be important, particularly when India's spinners are operating.

Ravindra Jadeja returns to the Test squad for this series after sitting out the Afghanistan series in June 2026. He is predicted to bat at number six and will be a key bowling option on the Galle surface. In the tour match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI at Colombo, Jadeja took four wickets across two innings, demonstrating that he is in good rhythm ahead of the first Test.

There could be a toss up between Saransh Jain and Sarfaraz Khan, with the final selection likely to depend on the team management's reading of the pitch conditions at Galle. Sarfaraz Khan has shown his ability to score runs in Test cricket and would add batting depth to the middle order. Meanwhile, Jain is a gutsy spin-bowling all-rounder. The competition for this spot reflects the options available to captain Gill ahead of the first Test.