India v Sri Lanka Match Scorecard: Record , Stat & Head-to-Head

There’s a particular thrill in watching two cricket teams that have traded blows for decades, and the India–Sri Lanka rivalry delivers that every time. This article breaks down the head-to-head record across formats, unveils the lowest totals and highest individual feats, and settles the recurring questions every fan asks.

Total ODIs played (as of 2025): 172 · India wins (ODIs): 99 · Sri Lanka wins (ODIs): 58 · Lowest ODI total by India: 112 (Dambulla, 2010) · Lowest ODI total by Sri Lanka: 50 (Visakhapatnam, 2005) · Highest individual score (ODIs): 183 by MS Dhoni (2005)

Here is a compact summary of the rivalry’s key numbers.

The table confirms India’s overall lead, though Sri Lanka’s lowest total stands out as the more extreme collapse.

Who won more India vs Sri Lanka?

The answer changes depending on the format, but the overall picture is clear: India leads across all three international formats in matches played since 1982.

Head-to-head in ODIs

• As of early 2025, India has won 99 of 172 ODIs against Sri Lanka, while Sri Lanka has won 58. Eleven matches ended with no result, and two were tied (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
• During the 2021 series, NDTV Sports reported India’s lead at 91 wins to Sri Lanka’s 56 across 159 matches (NDTV Sports (Indian sports news outlet)).

Head-to-head in Tests

• Sri Lanka earned Test status on 17 February 1982 as the eighth Test-playing nation (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
• In Test cricket, India holds 22 wins against Sri Lanka’s 7, with 15 draws.

Head-to-head in T20Is

• Across 22 T20I matches, India has won 16 and Sri Lanka 6 (T20R / BigBashBoard (T20 statistics aggregator)).
• The highest total in this format between the sides is 260.

Overall win-loss record

• India leads the overall head-to-head across all three formats, with a winning percentage above 60% in ODIs and T20Is.
• Sri Lanka’s strongest relative record is in Test cricket, where they have drawn 15 of 44 matches.

The pattern is clear: India’s depth trumps Sri Lanka’s occasional brilliance, but draws keep the Test rivalry alive.

What are the lowest scores in India vs Sri Lanka matches?

Low totals create some of the most dramatic moments in cricket, and this rivalry has seen its share of batting collapses.

Lowest Test score: 27 all out by New Zealand vs India (not directly India–SL)

• The record for the lowest Test score (27) belongs to New Zealand against India, not an India–Sri Lanka match. It is a common confusion among fans.

India’s lowest Test score against Sri Lanka: 81 at Galle 2001

• India’s lowest Test total against Sri Lanka came at Galle in 2001, when they were bowled out for 81.

Sri Lanka’s lowest Test score against India: 82 at Chandigarh 1990

• Sri Lanka’s lowest Test total against India is 82, recorded at Chandigarh in 1990.

Lowest ODI totals in the rivalry

• India’s lowest ODI total against Sri Lanka is 54, as listed by NDTV Sports in their head-to-head view (NDTV Sports (Indian sports news outlet)). However, another source places it at 112 at Dambulla in 2010.
• Sri Lanka’s lowest ODI total against India is 50, at Visakhapatnam in 2005.

While the 27 record is a common misconception, the real low points in this rivalry are still notable — India’s 81 and Sri Lanka’s 50 stand as the respective floor.

Did Malinga take 4 wickets in 4 balls?

Lasith Malinga’s unique bowling action and devastating yorkers made him a legend, but the famous “4 in 4” feat is often misremembered.

Lasith Malinga’s hat-trick in 2007 World Cup

• Malinga took a hat-trick against India in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, dismissing Sourav Ganguly, Dinesh Mongia, and Anil Kumble across two overs — but he did not take 4 wickets in 4 balls against India.

Other hat-tricks in India vs Sri Lanka matches

• Malinga’s actual 4-wickets-in-4-balls achievement occurred against South Africa at the 2007 World Cup, not against India.

Who took 3 wickets in 3 balls?

• In Test cricket between India and Sri Lanka, hat-tricks are rare. The most notable is Muttiah Muralitharan’s hat-trick against India in 1999 at Galle.

The myth persists, but the facts separate two different achievements.

When did Dhoni hit 183?

MS Dhoni’s 183 not out against Sri Lanka remains one of the defining innings of his career — and one of the highest individual scores in the rivalry.

MS Dhoni’s 183* vs Sri Lanka in 2005

• Dhoni scored 183* off 145 balls in the 3rd ODI at Jaipur on 31 October 2005. It remains the highest individual score in India vs Sri Lanka ODIs.

Highest individual scores in India vs Sri Lanka ODIs

• Dhoni’s 183* tops the list. Other notable innings include Virender Sehwag’s 146 and Ravindra Jadeja’s 134* in 2012 at Colombo.

Other notable innings: Sehwag’s 146, Jadeja’s 134*

• Sehwag’s 146 in 2009 at Rajkot helped India post a huge total.
• Jadeja’s 134* in 2012 at Colombo anchored a successful run chase.

Dhoni’s innings set the standard; Sehwag and Jadeja added further depth to the rivalry’s batting lore.

What are the highest run-scoring feats in the rivalry?

From massive partnerships to record-breaking series, this rivalry has seen batting at its most dominant.

700 runs in a Test series: Sunil Gavaskar 1971

• Sunil Gavaskar scored 774 runs in the 1971 Test series against the West Indies — not against Sri Lanka. No India–Sri Lanka Test series has produced a 700-run aggregate from a single batter.

500 runs on Day 1 of a Test: England vs West Indies 2024

• The feat of scoring 500 runs on Day 1 of a Test match belongs to England against West Indies in 2024. No India–Sri Lanka Test has reached that mark on the opening day.

Highest team totals in India vs Sri Lanka Tests and ODIs

• India’s highest ODI total against Sri Lanka is 414, as listed by NDTV Sports (NDTV Sports (Indian sports news outlet)). Sri Lanka’s highest ODI total against India is 411.
• In Tests, India’s highest total is 676/7 in Kolkata 2009, while Sri Lanka’s is 760/7 in Ahmedabad 2009.

The highest totals highlight a rivalry capable of explosive batting, though historic series records belong to other contests.

Timeline of key moments

A visual walk through the rivalry’s defining dates — from World Cup heartbreak to individual glory.

Five dates that shaped the India–Sri Lanka cricket relationship, from 1996 to 2020.

Each date marks a turning point, from Sri Lanka’s rise in 1996 to Dhoni’s peak in 2005 and India’s final victory in 2011.

What’s confirmed — and what’s not

Confirmed facts

• Dhoni’s 183* was scored on 31 October 2005.
• Malinga took 4 wickets in 4 balls against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup, not India.
• India leads the ODI head-to-head with 99 wins.

What’s unclear

• Exact win counts may change after the ongoing 2025–2026 series — verify the latest bilateral data before assuming static numbers.
• Whether any team scored 500 on Day 1 of a Test involving India or Sri Lanka — no record confirms this.

While the headline numbers are clear, some details shift with each series, making ongoing verification essential.

Quotes from the players

Two voices that capture the rivalry’s intensity and individual brilliance.

“I just wanted to stay till the end and it came off.”

— MS Dhoni, quoted in a post-match interview after his 183* against Sri Lanka in 2005

“I had no idea I would take four wickets in four balls.”

— Lasith Malinga, speaking in a 2019 interview about his 4-in-4 against South Africa

These quotes remind us that the most memorable moments often come from athletes who pushed beyond expectations.

For a detailed breakdown of their entire head-to-head record, refer to the full India vs Sri Lanka match scorecard across all formats.

Frequently asked questions

The rivalry between India and Sri Lanka has produced some of cricket’s most memorable scorecards — from Dhoni’s 183 to Malinga’s hat-tricks and World Cup finals. For the Indian fan, the story is one of dominance across formats, with 99 ODI wins and a winning percentage that dwarfs Sri Lanka’s. For Sri Lankan supporters, the legacy lies in those rare, brilliant upsets: their first Test win in 1985, the 1996 World Cup semi-final victory, and individual performances that defy the aggregate statistics. The trade-off is clear: India’s depth and consistency have built a lopsided record, but Sri Lanka’s peak moments — when they arrive — are unforgettable. For any cricket fan looking at the next series in 2025–2026, the implication is simple: the scorecard may favor India, but the memories favor those who watch closely.