As Sri Lanka looks to end its decade-long win drought against India in Tests, former Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews said the team has to play a positive brand of cricket to tame the visitors.

“You’ve got all the videos, and there are no secrets in international cricket nowadays. So, it’s about the positive body language and the mindset they need to take into the field. They are coming up against a huge Indian line-up, and it’s never easy to play against them in any condition. It’s a matter of having the right attitude and taking the game on,” Mathews said during an online interaction on Friday, on the eve of the first Test starting in Galle.

In the build-up to the match, there has been a lot of focus on the spin strengths of both sides and how many could feature in the XI. However, the 39-year-old felt that fast bowlers could still play a huge part in the series.

“Spin plays a major role, especially in these conditions. So Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis will be vital. But I wouldn’t rule out the pacers. Guys like Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando will have a bigger role to play, especially with the new ball, and also trying to keep it tight at one end so the spinners can go at the Indian batters. It has to be a collective effort,” he added.

The former Lanka all-rounder reckoned that India might miss Jasprit Bumrah, especially in Galle, where quicks can get reverse swing.

“Bumrah has got the skill to bowl in any condition. And he would have been lethal, especially in Galle with the reverse swing. So, Sri Lanka is quite lucky not to have come up against Bumrah. But Siraj, Jadeja, and Kuldeep have got the skill. So, Sri Lankan batters can’t be complacent. You have got to respect the game and take it in a positive attitude,” said Mathews.

(Watch the Sri Lanka-India Test series live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD and Sony LIV from 10 a.m. on August 15).

Gary Kirsten guided India to some of its greatest achievements during his three-year tenure as head coach. The defining moment came in his final assignment, when Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina carried him on their shoulders after India lifted the 2011 Cricket World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Kirsten looks back on those years with fondness, even as he now finds himself in the opposition camp.

As Sri Lanka head coach, he will be plotting India’s downfall when the two-match Test series begins at Galle on Saturday.

“That was a great three years. There was a lot of skill in the team. What I appreciated was that they accepted me into their space and felt I could add value. That was a real privilege,” Kirsten said during a virtual interaction on Thursday.

The South African earned widespread praise for his man-management skills while working with a star-studded Indian side that included Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh.

Kirsten hopes to build similar relationships with the current Sri Lankan squad.

“I’ve treated this Sri Lankan opportunity with the same seriousness that I did the Indian team. I built good relationships with the Indian players, and I’m attempting to do the same with the Sri Lankan players,” he said.

The 58-year-old kept his cards close to his chest when asked about India’s perceived vulnerability against spin. “We would certainly like to bring all the skills into the game, not just spin,” Kirsten said.

The former opening batter also backed India head coach Gautam Gambhir. “His record speaks for itself. I really enjoyed working with him when he was a player. He was a very smart cricketer, and I knew he would have success as a coach,” Kirsten said.

(Watch Sri Lanka vs. India 1st Test Day 1 on August 15, 2026, from 10 a.m. IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD and Sony LIV).