Sri Lanka have recalled Niroshan Dickwella to their Test setup, naming the experienced gloveman in a 16-man squad for the first Test against India, which gets underway at Galle on August 15.

Dickwella, who last appeared in Test cricket back in March 2023, is the designated wicketkeeper in the squad after regular Kusal Mendis was ruled out with a hamstring injury. The hosts will also be without opener Pathum Nissanka, who misses the contest with a wrist injury.

The squad also features a pair of uncapped players in off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha and top-order batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara, both of whom impressed during the three-day warm-up against India at the NCC Ground in Colombo. Dilshan Madushanka, who holds just a single Test cap from 2023, also returns to the fold.

Nuwantha and Sooriyabandara stake their claims

Nuwantha, an off-spinner, claimed three wickets across two innings in the practice match, notably breaching KL Rahul's defences in the first innings before adding the scalps of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant in the second. He recently returned a five-wicket haul against India A in Galle as well.

Sooriyabandara, who batted at No. 3 in the warm-up fixture, managed scores of 35 and 4.

Dhananjaya de Silva to lead

Dhananjaya De Silva will lead the side, with Kamindu Mendis named his deputy as Sri Lanka look to build on home advantage against the in-form Indian visitors.

Sri Lanka squad for the first Test vs India

Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis (vc), Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.