India's cricket team will begin a challenging two-Test series in Sri Lanka on August 15, marking the side's first tour of the island nation in a decade. Even though Sri Lanka sit well below India on the World Test Championship points table, the series carries real weight for both teams' campaigns.
Sri Lanka have historically punched above their weight on home soil, and India cannot afford to take the hosts lightly, their strength multiplying several times over on familiar pitches. Over the years, both nations have produced some of the game's most destructive batters, several of whom built mountains of runs against each other in Test cricket. Ahead of the series opener, here is a look back at the five biggest individual innings ever played between India and Sri Lanka in Tests.
Sanath Jayasuriya, 340 runs (Colombo, 1997)
Topping the list is Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, who compiled 340 runs off 578 balls at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in 1997. His marathon innings included 36 fours and 2 sixes and remains the highest individual score in a Test between the two sides.
Virender Sehwag, 293 runs (Mumbai, 2009)
India's Virender Sehwag ranks second on the list. Playing at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai in 2009, Sehwag smashed 293 runs off just 254 balls, hitting 40 fours and 7 sixes, the fastest scoring rate among the innings on this list.
Mahela Jayawardene, 275 runs (Ahmedabad, 2009)
Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene takes third spot with 275 runs off 435 balls in the 2009 Ahmedabad Test, an innings built on 27 fours and a solitary six.
Virat Kohli, 243 runs (Delhi, 2017)
India's Virat Kohli features fourth on the list with 243 runs off 287 balls in the 2017 Delhi Test, an innings that included 25 boundaries.
Mahela Jayawardene, 242 runs (Colombo, 1999)
Rounding off the list is another Jayawardene special, 242 runs off 465 balls at the Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo in 1999, laced with 30 fours and 2 sixes, making him the only batter to appear twice on this list.
