Sri Lanka Cricket Confirms Free Entry For Two-Match Test Series Against India - News18

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced that fans will be granted free entry to the Galle International Stadium and the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo for the two Tests against India, starting Saturday, August 15, in Galle. Sri Lankan fans are known for their passionate support and have turned up in large numbers over the years, creating vibrant atmospheres in packed stadiums. The offer of free entry is expected to attract even more spectators and inject fresh energy into Tests, a format that has struggled to draw crowds in recent times. The last time Sri Lanka hosted India, the series ended in a historic 2-0 ODI win for the hosts, marking their first bilateral ODI series victory over their neighbours since 1997. Sri Lanka will be hoping for similar backing from their fans when they take on Shubman Gill’s team in a Test series that could have a significant impact on their WTC 2025-27 campaign. Fans can enter free of charge through Gate No. 4 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, while Gates 3, 4, 5 and 7 will remain open at the SSC, a report in the Newswire said. Sri Lanka Cricket had also offered free entry for multiple games during the 2026 T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India. Fans were able to watch the thrilling tournament opener between Pakistan and the Netherlands, as well as Zimbabwe’s brilliant upset win against Australia, from the stands without paying for tickets. Meanwhile, India’s bowlers endured a difficult outing as Sri Lanka’s next generation of batters took control before Kuldeep Yadav and the spin attack staged a comeback in the final session. The hosts finished the opening day of the three-day warm-up game in Colombo on Friday at 363/8. Since the game does not have first-class status, each team will bat 90 overs on days one and two and 45 overs each on the final day.