With a defeat in the 1st Test of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy 2025, Sri Lankan cricket stooped to a new low. The loss has gone down in history as the biggest ever defeat of Sri Lanka in Test cricket. The Sri Lankan batting line-up succumbed to the Australian bowling onslaught which paved the way for an Australian triumph by an innings and 242 runs. In the light of this recent historic defeat of Sri Lanka on their home soil, here are top 5 biggest innings defeat of Sri Lanka in Test cricket.
Top 5 biggest innings defeats for Sri Lanka
(1) Australia assert total dominance (Galle, 2025):
The 1st Test of the 2-match series between the two nations saw history in making as Sri Lanka secured the biggest defeat in its Test cricket history. The home side were completely dominated by the Australian team at the Galle International Stadium. The visitors added a total of 654/6 in their 1st innings which proved out to be too much for the home side as they could only put together a total of 165 and 247 runs respectively in their two innings, and losing the game by an innings and 242 runs. Usman Khawaja was the star for the Australian side with the bat and Matthew Kuhnemann had a stellar performance with the bowl to pave the way for a huge Australian win.
2) Surrender against India (Nagpur, 2017):
The Lankan team were on a tour to India in November when they had to face a humiliating defeat against the home side in Nagpur. The Sri Lankan captain won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the entire Sri Lankan batting order crashed and could only forge a total of 205 runs in their 1st innings. The Indian side, with emphatic centuries from Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara and an exquisite double-hundred from then skipper Virat Kohli, managed to outperform Sri Lanka and put 610/6 before declaring their innings. The Sri Lankans totally surrendered to the score-board pressure and were bowled out on 166 runs as India registered a win by an innings and 239 runs.
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(3) A South African triumph (Cape Town, 2001):
A defeat at the hands of South Africa that was star-studded with legends all the way is another bone of contention in Sri Lanka’s cricketing history. The 2nd Test of the 2001 tour to South Africa came with Sri Lanka opting to bat first after winning the toss. However, the entire batting unit failed to leave a mark and were wrapped up on just 95 runs in 1st innings.
In response, the South African team with the help of an emphatic knock from Daryll Cullinan carved out a total of 504/7 in their 1st innings before declaring and inviting the visitors to bat once again. Sri Lanka, under the leadership of legendary batter Sanath Jayasuriya could not withstand the Proteas onslaught and could only add 180 runs in their 2nd innings leading to a South African win by an innings and 229 runs.
(4) Dominance from Pakistan (Colombo, 2023):
Another striking defeat for Sri Lanka on their home soil came in the year 2023 when Pakistan came to the island nation on a 2-match Test series. In the final encounter between the two nations at Colombo, Sri Lanka were restricted to 166 runs by the visitors. Pakistan, due to a remarkable double-hundred from opener Abdullah Shafique managed to put together a total of 576/5 and declared their innings to let the home side crash on the weight of the gigantic total. Pakistan’s plans bore fruit as Sri Lanka were rattled down to 188 in the 2nd innings thus ensuring a win for the visitors by an innings and 222 runs.
(5) Master-class from India ( Mohali, 2022):
Sri Lankan team were in India for a 3-match T20I and a 2-match Test series. In the 1st Test match at Mohali, the Sri Lankan were outperformed by India to secure an emphatic win. The home side won the toss and elected to bat first and put together a total of 574/8 in their 1st innings owing to a 175-run knock from all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
Sri Lanka, in response were stormed away by the Indian bowlers on 174 runs and enforced a follow-on. The visitors could not match the Indian total in the 2nd innings too and were derailed by the Indian bowlers. The Sri Lankan team was restricted to 178 runs, clearing the way for an Indian win by an innings and 222 runs. Jadeja was named as the Player of the Match for his emphatic knock with the bat and masterclass from the ball to take 9 wickets in the Test match.