With South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) victory coming to an end, the focus of cricket’s red-ball story moves almost 9,000 kilometers to the east to Galle, where Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will begin the 2025–27 WTC cycle. The series is more than just a tournament opening for both sides; it’s an opportunity for atonement.
Sri Lanka is going through a rebuilding process as they play their first Test match since losing to Australia 2-0 at home. Despite having one of the most reliable red-ball lineups in 2024, their batting slumped in the series. An era in Sri Lankan cricket comes to an end with the retirement of Dimuth Karunaratne earlier this year and the impending goodbye of veteran Angelo Mathews.
To counterbalance that void, fresh faces have been introduced. Four uncapped batters—Lahiru Udara, Sonal Dinusha, Pavan Rathnayake, and Pasindu Sooriyabandara—will look to leave a mark, supported by seasoned performers like Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis. In the spin department, Tharindu Ratnayake and Akila Dananjaya will assist the ever-reliable Prabath Jayasuriya, who has emerged as Sri Lanka’s spin spearhead.
Bangladesh, too, enters with caution. Their form has been patchy in 2024, with just two international wins and a series of misfiring top-order performances. Despite this, they’re banking on experience. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the team’s standout all rounder, will play a central role in spin-friendly Galle, provided he recovers from a reported fever. Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, and debutant Hasan Murad could complete a three-pronged spin attack.
Captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, who may be pushed up to open in case of reshuffling, acknowledged the importance of a strong start to the new cycle. With inconsistent returns from seniors like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque, Bangladesh needs more united team effort.
Weather, however, might be the biggest opponent. Rain is forecast across all five days, threatening to turn a key series into a frustrating stop-start affair. Yet Galle’s spinning pitches promise action when play resumes—373 wickets have fallen to spin here since 2020, the most at any venue in the world.
With both teams in transition and hungry for redemption, this series might finally break the trend of one-sided results in Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Tests. And if the clouds relent, we could be in for a gripping start to the new WTC journey.
Probable XI – Sri Lanka:
Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Milan Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando
Probable XI – Bangladesh:
Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Jaker Ali (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Hasan Murad, Hasan Mahmud
Key Players to Watch:
Dinesh Chandimal – The ever-consistent No. 3 with an impressive average of 67.06 against Bangladesh.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz – Bangladesh’s in-form allrounder, critical with both bat and ball.
Did You Know?
Bangladesh are on a streak of 21 consecutive Tests without a draw, equaling their longest run from 2001-2004. Their last draw came against Sri Lanka—three years ago!
