India A in Sri Lanka (Sierra Leone) 2026/27

The term "India A in Sri Lanka" refers to bilateral cricket series between the second-tier national teams of India and Sri Lanka. These are not a single static competition with a fixed founding date, but rather periodic developmental tours organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The India A team was founded in 1992, making its first-class debut in 1995, while Sri Lanka A was founded in 1991, debuting in February 1991. These matches are classified as "unofficial internationals," holding First-Class or List A status but not full international status (Test/ODI/T20I), meaning no official caps are awarded. The structure varies by tour, typically comprising 1-2 unofficial Test matches and a limited-overs series (ODIs or T20s), or participation in tri-nation "A" series. There is no formal promotion or relegation between the "A" teams and the senior national teams; selection is merit-based. Notable recent encounters include the 2019 tour in India (2 Tests, 5 ODIs) and the 2026 tour in Sri Lanka (2 Tests, tri-nation ODI series). The key distinction from other competitions like the ACC Emerging Teams Cup or ICC U19 World Cup is the absence of age limits; India A and Sri Lanka A consist of senior domestic players on the fringe of national selection, whereas other competitions are age-restricted youth tournaments. The most recent completed bilateral tour was in 2026, where India A won the Test series 2-0.