Sri Lanka’s head coach Gary Kirsten has outlined his team’s approach ahead of the first Test match against India, which begins on August 15 in Galle. The two-match series is India’s first Test tour to Sri Lanka in nine years, and they are visiting the country for the first time since 2017. India has won five consecutive Test matches in Sri Lanka and hasn’t lost a series there since 2008, making them a significant threat to the local team.
Gary Kirsten, who was appointed head coach of Sri Lanka on April 15, 2026, for a two-year term, took part in a virtual media interview hosted by Sony prior to the opening game on Thursday. The South African has a plethora of international cricket experience to his present role.
He captained India from 2008 to 2011 and South Africa from 2011 to 2013. As a part of the team, he oversaw India’s 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup victory. “Everyone has access to a lot of information these days.” We can view every ball that an Indian player has encountered over the past ten years. India is also capable of doing the same.
Therefore, gathering information and attempting to develop a plan or strategy does not provide a competitive edge. In a virtual interview hosted by Sony on Thursday, Gary Kirsten stated, “I think cricket is largely about how you use your skills and how you build strategy in real time.” “The game unfolds very differently and players need to navigate those different situations that they’re confronted with in a match.”
As a result, we have been concentrating on our plans A, B, and C for each batter and bowler, depending on what the circumstances of the game demand. We need to have our own tactics for the game’s chopping and changes, especially in Test cricket, which takes place over a respectable amount of time,” he continued.
Gary Kirsten knows that relying solely on their spinners won’t be enough to face a strong Indian outfit.
“We would certainly like to bring all the skills into the game, not just spin,” the 58-year-old former South African opening batsman stated, expressing his wish for his squad to succeed in every facet of the game.
In a two-match series, concentration is crucial.
Gary Kirsten stated that his team has done a lot of research to identify any weaknesses in the Indian batting lineup, although he acknowledged that India will have conducted a similar investigation. However, he underlined that pre-match preparation loses significance once the game begins.
“We’ve done as much homework as we can to understand what the potential areas are that we can exploit in the Indian team, as they too would be doing about us,” he said. And we might be able to take advantage of that information. However, as I previously stated, we will plan and strategise appropriately once the game progresses and we understand what is expected of us,” Gary Kirsten stated. “Games may be won and lost in a single session.”
Additionally, a two-match series may be lost in a single session. Thus, you must maintain focus throughout. Too much lapse could define the series, therefore you can’t do that. Thus, I believe we understand the importance of doing well at home,” he continued.
