SL vs BAN Today’s Match Prediction & Cricket Betting Tips: Bangladesh Tour of Sri Lanka, 1st Test, June 17
Published on: Jun 16, 2025 12:25 pm IST | Updated on: Jun 16, 2025 4:42 pm IST
The Lanka Lions are all set to host the Bangladesh Tigers in a 2-match Test series, part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. The first of the two tests will be played at the Galle International Stadium in Galle. Both teams have been struggling in red ball cricket of late and would be hoping to put up more than a decent show in the two-Test match series. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 1st SL vs BAN Test at the Galle International Stadium in Galle.
Win Probability: SL vs BAN
Apart from India, no other team in the subcontinent has been performing to their standards in red-ball cricket. Both Sri Lanka’s and Bangladesh’s recent form in Test cricket has been a downward spiral. The hosts have managed to win only a solitary game out of their last 5 Tests, whereas Bangladesh has managed only 2 wins from their last 5 Test matches. Sri Lanka has always been a formidable opponent at home, making them a tough side to beat for the Bangladesh Tigers. Therefore, Australia will go into this contest with the upper hand. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the SL vs BAN 1st Test at Galle.
SL: 62% win chance
BAN: 38% win chance
- Sri Lanka are heading into this series on the back of two series defeats on the trot.
- Bangladesh has drawn their last two Test series against West Indies and Zimbabwe at 1-1. Both were two-match series.
- In their last 5 head-to-head meetings, Sri Lanka has won 4, and one match between the two ended in a draw.
- Sri Lanka will clearly start as the favorites in this fixture.
Cricket Betting Tips for SL vs BAN- 1st Test
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to be the Top Batter
The all-rounder has been Bangladesh's most bankable player with both bat and ball in recent times. In his last 10 Test matches, the right-hander has scored 598 runs at an average of 37.38 and scalped 41 wickets.
Kamindu Mendis to score Over 34.5 in 1st Innings
The southpaw has scored 857 runs in his last 10 Test matches, averaging 53. He has been the lynchpin in Sri Lanka's batting unit everisnce his debut.
Prabath Jayasuriya to be the top Bowler
The left-arm slow bowler has been Sri Lanka's top pick in home conditions in the last year or so. He has a knack for picking wickets consistently, as he has 49 wickets to his name in the last 9 Test matches.
Shadman Islam to score Over 20.5 in 1st Innings
Bangladesh opener has been scoring runs consistently of late. In the last 9 Test matches, the southpaw has scored 500 runs at a decent average of 31.25. Expect him to be amongst runs in this game.
SL vs BAN Today’s Match Prediction
Check out our prediction for the SL vs BAN 1st Test at the Galle International Stadium, Galle.
Sri Lanka will be hoping to get over the drubbing at the hands of Australia at home and decimate Bangladesh
This series is iconic in the context of the legendary all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who has announced his retirement from Test cricket, and this will be his last series. The team management has rung in as many as six changes from their last Test series against Australia at home, which they lost 2-0.
Ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake is among six uncapped players in the SL squad, whereas pacer Kasun Rajitha and spinner Akila Dhananjaya have returned to the squad. Sri Lanka’s crushing 2-0 defeat against Australia at home in their last Test outing was a shock, as the hosts, who are known to dominate in home conditions, ended the series winless.
With this being the final Test series of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest servants, Angelo Mathews, the team would be keen on giving him an apt farewell by winning this series 2-0. Right now, Dhananjaya de Silva and his men should focus on winning the first Test to get some momentum on their side in the series.
Bangladesh will look to better their Test record against Sri Lanka
Bangladesh has never been a formidable side in Test cricket. They have produced wonders and upsets in limited-overs cricket, but when it comes to Test cricket, the team has always looked pale, especially away from home, all these years. Najmul Hossain Shanto will be leading the troops yet again in Test cricket, as the team management has finally sorted the captaincy jigsaw puzzle across formats.
Najmul will be leading the side in Test cricket, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been appointed the new skipper of ODI cricket, whereas wicket-keeper batter Litton Das will continue to lead the T20 side. Under Najmul’s captaincy, Bangladesh historically clean-swept Pakistan in the 2-match Test series played in Pakistan. That historic series win played a crucial role in Najmul’s retention as the captain in the red-ball format.
Sri Lanka’s spin-friendly conditions will be both a blessing in disguise for Bangladesh, as the team possesses a good bunch of spinners, but tackling Sri Lankan spinners could be a tough task for their batters. Expect a thriller of a contest between these two Asian sides. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.
SL vs BAN Head-to-Head
Matches Played: 26
SL won: 20
BAN won: 1
Draw: 5
RECENT form BANGLADESH: L L W L W
RECENT form SRI LANKA: W L L L L
Both teams have collided against each other 26 times in Test cricket. Sri Lanka has a sheer domination over Bangladesh with 20 wins, whereas Bangladesh has managed only a solitary win against their name. Five matches between these two sides have ended as a draw.
Team Analysis: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
How will the two teams, i.e., Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, fare in the 1st Test? Let’s take a look.
Sri Lanka (SL)
- The hosts have named an 18-man squad for this Test series.
- As many as six uncapped players have been named in the squad.
- Lahiru Udara, Sonal Dinusha, Pavan Rathnayake, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Tharindu Rathnayake, and Isitha Wijesundara are the six new faces in the 18-man squad.
- Kasun Rajitha and Akila Dananjaya have also returned to the squad after a long hiatus.
- Sadeera Samarawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peries, Vishwa Fernando, and Nishan Madushka have missed the cut from the last series Sri Lanka played against Australia at home.
- One of Oshada Fernando or Lahiru Udara could open alongside Pathum Nissanka.
- The rest of the batting order will comprise Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kusal Mendis.
- On the bowling front, the onus would be on the likes of Asitha Fernando, Tharindu Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, and one between Akila Dananjaya and Kasun Rajitha.
Expected Starting 11
Oshada Fernando/Lahiru Udara, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Kusal Mendis (WK), Asitha Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Tharindu Rathnayake, Akila Dananjaya/Kasun Rajitha.
Bangladesh (BAN)
- The visitors, Bangladesh, are heading into this series with a 16-man squad led by the southpaw Najmul Hossain Shanto.
- Wicket-keeper batter and T20I skipper Litton Das has returned to the squad after missing the Zimbabwe Test due to an injury.
- Also returning to the squad are right-arm pacer Ebadot Hossain, left-arm spinner Hasan Murad, and fast bowler Nahid Rana.
- The likes of Tanvir Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, part of the Zimbabwe Tests, have all been left out
- Shadman Islam and Anamul Haque are all set to open the innings for Bangladesh.
- The middle-order will comprise the likes of Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
- On the bowling front, Bangladesh should opt for at least two frontline spinners, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz being the third option.
- Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan should be the two primary spinners, whereas Ebadot Hossain and Tanzim Hasan Shakib will be the two frontline pacers.
Expected Starting 11:
Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (WK), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Shakib
Weather Conditions and Pitch Report
Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 1st Test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Gale International Stadium in Galle:
| Pitch Report | Weather Report |
|---|---|
| The Galle surface is a spin haven, especially from Day 3 onward. Expect sharp turn and variable bounce, making life tough for batters in the fourth innings. | Day 1 (June 17): 80% chance of rain with overcast skies. Temperatures between 28–31°C. High humidity may aid swing early on. |
| Early in the match, seamers can extract movement with the new ball due to moisture and cloud cover. However, the pitch dries quickly under the sun. | Day 2–3: Scattered showers expected. Intermittent play likely. Conditions remain humid, with light winds from the southwest. |
| The average 1st innings score is around 370–375, but it plummets to ~159 in the 4th innings, emphasizing the importance of batting first. | Day 4–5: Light rain may persist. If play continues, expect slower outfield and sluggish pitch behavior, favoring spinners even more. |
Toss Prediction
Based on the conditions at Galle, the team winning the toss should opt to bat first. The surface offers its best batting conditions early in the match. As the game wears on, spinners dominate, and batting in the fourth innings becomes extremely tough due to variable bounce and sharp turns. Therefore, the captain winning the toss should opt to bat.
Where to Watch Today’s Match
The online live streaming of the 1st Test match of the Bangladesh Tour of Sri Lanka will take place live on the Sony Liv App. TV viewers can watch the match live on the Sony Ten 1, Ten 2, and Ten 5 channels.
SL vs BAN: Today’s Match Predictions
Heading into this contest, Sri Lanka will be the firm favorites, as they will be playing in their home conditions. Bangladesh will have to be on their toes against Sri Lankan spinners, especially when the match progresses and the conditions become more suitable for the spinners. Right now, as per our prediction, the hosts, Sri Lanka, are expected to win the 1st SL vs BAN Dream11 Prediction Test match.