Bangladesh Bat First in Opening Test vs Sri Lanka at Galle

The 2025-2027 World Test Championship began with a match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, where Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first, anticipating spin-friendly conditions. Bangladesh is playing without allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz due to illness and has opted for four specialist bowlers. Sri Lanka introduced two debutants, top-order batter Lahiru Udara and spinner Tharindu Ratnayake, in what is Angelo Mathews' final Test match, marking the end of his distinguished career. The match is significant as it follows South Africa's recent triumph in the World Test Championship, and both teams look to improve their standing after mixed performances in the previous cycle. Weather conditions pose a challenge, with rain expected to cause interruptions during the early days of the Test. The series will be followed by white-ball games, and the matches are being broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network and streaming platforms.