5 Highest team totals in India vs Sri Lanka cricket history

The Test cricket history between India and Sri Lanka dates back to 1982, and the two teams have played 48 matches so far. India have dominated the contests between the two sides, having won 23 out of 48 games. Over the years, both teams have been blessed with several great batters, who’ve plundered runs with their willows.

India and Sri Lanka have produced many extraordinary batting performances in Test cricket, with several matches witnessing monumental totals. Here are the five highest team totals recorded in India vs Sri Lanka Test history:

1. Sri Lanka – 952/6 declared, Colombo, 1997

The highest team total in India vs Sri Lanka Test history was registered during the first Test in August, 1997. Playing at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka posted a massive total of 952/6 in 271 overs, in reply to India’s first innings score of 537/8 declared. Sanath Jayasuriya scored a mammoth 340, while Roshan Mahanama also notched up 225. 

The total remains the highest ever recorded by a team in Test cricket. It was also Mahela Jayawardene’s Test debut, who scored a half-century, and the match eventually ended in a high-scoring draw.

2. Sri Lanka – 760/7 declared, Ahmedabad, 2009

In 2009, Sri Lanka again piled on the runs against India. In the first Test of the series in Ahmedabad, Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 760/7 in 202.4 overs, in reply to India’s first innings score of 426. Mahela Jayawardene led the charge with a magnificent 275, while TM Dilshan (112) and Prasanna Jayawardene (154) also scored hundreds. Their mammoth score put Sri Lanka firmly in control, although India responded with 412/4 in the third innings as the match ended in a draw.

3. India – 726/9 declared, Mumbai, 2009

India's highest total against Sri Lanka came at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai during the 2009 series, when they posted 726/9 declared in 163.3 overs. Opener Virender Sehwag unleashed mayhem on Sri Lankan bowlers, but missed out on his third triple hundred, getting dismissed for 293, while captain MS Dhoni also slammed a century. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 393 and 309 in the two innings respectively, giving India a massive win by an innings and 24 runs that also helped them become the number one Test team.

4. India – 707 all out, Colombo, 2010

India crossed the 700-run barrier again in 2010, this time at Colombo's SSC. They got 707 all out in 225.2 overs, riding on a splendid double century from Sachin Tendulkar (203), while Suresh Raina (120) also slammed a century on debut. However, the game eventually ended in a draw after Sri Lanka scored 129/3 in the third innings.

5. India – 676/7, Kanpur, 1986

India take the fifth spot, having scored 676/7 in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kanpur, 1986. Mohammad Azharuddin (199), Sunil Gavaskar (176) and Kapil Dev (163) slammed centuries and put on a dominating display for India. The match eventually ended in a draw.