IND vs SL: India Offer Extra T20Is to Sri Lanka in 2026 For THIS Gesture- Check Deets

IND vs SL: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stepped forward with a significant gesture of support for Sri Lanka by offering to play additional T20 International matches during India's 2026 tour of the island nation.

The move is aimed at assisting relief and rebuilding efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chairman Shammi Silva confirmed on Friday (January 2).

India are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in August 2026, a visit that was initially planned to feature only Test matches as part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. However, discussions are now underway to expand the itinerary by adding a few T20Is, with the proceeds expected to aid recovery efforts and boost SLC's revenues.

Silva revealed that the Indian board had earlier expressed readiness to help even sooner. "There was willingness from India to come down at the end of December to play two T20Is to raise funds, but there was simply no time to organise it, especially with no broadcaster available," Silva said, as quoted by local media. With logistical constraints ruling out a late-2025 visit, the focus has shifted to incorporating additional matches during the August 2026 tour, with exact dates and timings to be finalised closer to the series.

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in late November 2025, ranks among the country's most destructive natural disasters since the 2004 tsunami. Although the storm did not record extreme wind speeds, its slow movement, unusual path and unprecedented rainfall led to widespread flooding and destruction. Reports estimate that more than 600 people lost their lives, while hundreds of thousands were displaced, with homes, infrastructure and livelihoods severely affected.

Silva described India's proposal as an act of solidarity, noting that the added fixtures would generate greater visibility and financial support for relief and reconstruction. Sri Lanka Cricket has also committed to channeling proceeds from other international matches toward disaster relief, including donations from an upcoming T20I series against Pakistan.

This is not the first instance of India extending support through cricket. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the BCCI had similarly expanded a bilateral series to help offset SLC's financial losses - a move Silva recalled fondly. "India agreed to double the number of matches in their upcoming tour, and this means we will get more revenue from television rights," he told reporters at the time.