India Secure 1-0 Series Lead in 600th Test with Dominant Victory Over Sri Lanka
Left-arm spinner claims 10-101 figures to bowl out hosts for 206, while Devdutt Padikkal contributes with the bat in India’s 165-run win.
India has taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match series against Sri Lanka, securing a comprehensive 165-run victory in the first Test at Galle. The win marks a significant milestone for the Indian side, which played its 600th Test match, and establishes a strong foundation ahead of the second encounter in Colombo.
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar was the principal architect of the victory, claiming a ten-wicket haul in the match. Playing only his second Test, Suthar took 4-46 in the first innings and followed up with figures of 6-55 in the second. His performance included a triple-wicket maiden after lunch on the final day, during which he dismissed the last four Sri Lankan wickets for just seven runs to bowl out the hosts for 206.
Sri Lanka resumed the final day at 84-4 but struggled to maintain momentum. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva scored 59 before being caught by Suthar off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja, ending his innings shortly after he had been reprieved early on. Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, who had scored a half-century in the first innings, was dismissed for 10 in the second, edging a delivery from Prasidh Krishna to the wicketkeeper.
Despite the collapse, Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha offered significant resistance, top-scoring in both innings with 84 runs off 128 deliveries in the second innings. Dinusha, playing his fourth Test, displayed maturity against the spinners but was eventually dismissed by a catch at leg slip taken by Dhruv Jurel. The visitors’ batting struggled to cope with the turning pitch, which Indian captain Shubman Gill noted had natural wear and tear that favoured skilled bowlers.
India’s batting was anchored by Devdutt Padikkal, who entered the squad as a late injury replacement and scored 167 and 44 in the match. Captain Shubman Gill praised the team’s response to weather concerns and highlighted Suthar’s potential, describing him as a promising player who could represent India for a long time. The teams will now travel to Colombo for the second Test, scheduled to begin on Sunday.
