Sri Lanka, led by captain Dhananjaya de Silva, won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening Test against New Zealand in Galle. The match is crucial for World Test Championship points, with New Zealand currently third in the standings and Sri Lanka fifth. The hosts made strategic changes, including bringing in spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis, and adjusting their batting order. New Zealand, looking to recover from a washed-out Test against Afghanistan, will rely on their spinners and insights from coach Rangana Herath. Rain looms over the match, but both teams are motivated, with New Zealand aiming for their first away Test win since 2019.