Galle, August 15, 2026: Sri Lanka vs India 1st Test: Devdutt Padikkal produced a commanding unbeaten century on his return to India’s Test XI as the visitors dominated the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Padikkal remained unbeaten on 131 from 178 balls as India reached 288/2 in 73 overs at stumps after Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first.
The opening day was interrupted by rain and eventually brought to an early close because of bad light, but India still managed to establish a strong position. Padikkal’s maiden international century was the standout achievement, while Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 27 from 36 balls at the close.
KL Rahul also played a crucial role during the second-wicket partnership, scoring 77 from 162 deliveries before retiring hurt after suffering cramps. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the only batter dismissed in the first session, being run out for 32, while captain Shubman Gill made 16 before Prabath Jayasuriya claimed Sri Lanka’s first wicket by having him caught at mid-off.
India Finish Day 1 on 288/2
India made a confident start after choosing to bat first. Jaiswal immediately found the boundary in the opening over, while Rahul took time to settle. Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers struggled to maintain consistent lengths, allowing the Indian openers to build a platform before an unusual run-out ended Jaiswal’s innings.
Jaiswal was dismissed for 32 from 37 balls after a collision involving debutant spinner Keshara Nuwantha at the non-striker’s end left both Indian batters stranded. Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella completed the dismissal, sending Jaiswal back after India had reached 47.
Padikkal then joined Rahul and immediately looked comfortable. He struck his first delivery for a boundary and continued to attack the Sri Lankan spinners with controlled footwork. Rahul also found his rhythm, including a six against Prabath Jayasuriya, as the Karnataka pair steadily took control.
Padikkal Grabs His Opportunity
Padikkal entered the match after being brought into the side in the absence of Sai Sudharsan. The left-hander made the most of the opportunity, combining patience with calculated aggression throughout his innings.
His innings of 131 came from 178 balls and included 12 fours and one six. His strongest scoring option was his back-foot play, from which he scored 82 runs from 95 balls at a strike rate of 86.31. He scored 40 runs from 76 balls on the front foot and another nine runs from seven deliveries through charges down the track and other attacking options.
Padikkal reached his half-century from 81 balls before accelerating during the later stages of his innings. He brought up his maiden Test century from 134 balls, becoming India’s first No. 3 batter to score a Test hundred after a prolonged wait.
India’s No. 3 position had gone 35 innings without an individual century since September 2024. Padikkal ended that sequence with his unbeaten hundred at Galle.
KL Rahul Builds a Valuable Partnership
Rahul provided the stability at the other end as India moved through the middle overs. He reached his fifty from 127 balls and combined effectively with Padikkal during a partnership that eventually crossed 150 runs.
The second-wicket stand reached 50 from 89 balls, 100 from 187 balls and 150 from 253 deliveries. Rahul’s method against spin involved playing for the straight delivery and avoiding following the ball with his hands when it turned away. He also used his feet against Jayasuriya to disrupt the spinner’s length.
Rahul was on 77 when he retired hurt after the tea interval because of cramps. He had faced 162 balls and struck nine fours and one six. His departure was not recorded as a conventional wicket, leaving India at 197/1.
Shubman Gill Falls After Rain Break
Following Rahul’s retirement, Shubman Gill came to the crease. The Indian captain looked positive and immediately displayed his quality with two attractive cover drives.
Gill, however, attempted to attack Jayasuriya and was dismissed in the 62nd over. The spinner looped the ball up on middle, Gill advanced but failed to reach the pitch of the delivery. The ball turned away enough to produce a mis-hit that was caught by Udara at mid-off.
Gill’s dismissal came at 236/2 and gave Jayasuriya Sri Lanka’s first conventional bowling wicket of the match.
Rishabh Pant Adds Late Momentum
Rishabh Pant joined Padikkal after Gill’s dismissal and initially adopted a cautious approach. A second spell of rain interrupted the afternoon session, leaving the pair with a shorter period to negotiate before the close.
Pant eventually began taking on the spinners. He struck Jayasuriya for a six and a four, while Padikkal continued to punish deliveries that were offered at scoring lengths.
The pair added 52 runs from 67 balls for the third wicket before bad light stopped play. Pant finished unbeaten on 27 from 36 balls, with three fours and one six.
India’s Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | run out (Jayasuriya/Dickwella) | 32 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 86.48 |
| KL Rahul | retired hurt | 77 | 162 | 9 | 1 | 47.53 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | not out | 131 | 178 | 12 | 1 | 73.59 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | c Igalagamage b Jayasuriya | 16 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Rishabh Pant | not out | 27 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Extras | lb 2, nb 3 | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 73 overs | 288/2 | – | – | – | 3.94 |
Sri Lanka Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 10 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 2.80 |
| Lahiru Kumara | 10 | 1 | 51 | 0 | 5.10 |
| Keshara Nuwantha | 21 | 0 | 98 | 0 | 4.66 |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | 24 | 4 | 77 | 1 | 3.20 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 3.75 |
| Sonal Dinusha | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 4.25 |
Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Batter | Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st wicket | 47 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 10.6 |
| 2nd wicket | 236 | Shubman Gill | 61.5 |
KL Rahul retired hurt at 197/1 after scoring 77, so his departure did not count as a wicket in the fall-of-wickets record.
India’s Day 1 Session-by-Session Progress
| Session | Score | Overs | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| First session | 101/1 | 27 | 3.74 |
| Second session | 96/0 | 26 | 3.69 |
| Third session | 91/1 | 20 | 4.55 |
India scored 49 runs in the final 10 overs at a rate of 4.90 runs per over. The final partnership between Padikkal and Pant reached 52 from 67 balls.
Padikkal’s Century Ends India’s No. 3 Drought
Padikkal’s hundred ended India’s longest recent sequence without an individual Test century from the No. 3 position. The previous sequence had lasted 35 innings from September 2024 to June 2026.
| Sequence | Period |
|---|---|
| 57 innings | February 1968 to January 1975 |
| 54 innings | August 2019 to December 2022 |
| 35 innings | December 1948 to March 1953 |
| 35 innings | September 2024 to June 2026 |
| 31 innings | January 1976 to December 1977 |
Padikkal’s Innings by Footwork
| Method | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front foot | 40 | 76 | 52.63 | 4 | 0 |
| Back foot | 82 | 95 | 86.31 | 8 | 0 |
| Down the track/other | 9 | 7 | 128.57 | 0 | 1 |
Rain and Bad Light Interrupt India’s Progress
Rain prevented the second session from beginning immediately after lunch, with play eventually resuming at 2 PM local time. Another brief shower interrupted play later in the day after India had reached 239/2.
The final stoppage came because of poor light. At 18:00 local time, the umpires decided that conditions were not suitable for further play, bringing Day 1 to an end after 73 overs.
Galle Pitch Offers Assistance to Spinners
The pitch initially appeared well suited to batting, with grass covering much of the surface and limited early movement for the seamers. However, the spinners found increasing turn as the day progressed.
The average turn recorded in the final session reached 4.5 degrees, after 3.8 degrees in the first session and 4.2 degrees in the second. Despite that assistance, Sri Lanka’s spinners struggled to maintain enough consistency to build sustained pressure.
The conditions could become increasingly significant as the Test progresses. Galle traditionally offers a demanding challenge for teams batting in the fourth innings, making India’s first-innings position particularly valuable.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling Struggles
Prabath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler, finishing the day with 1/77 from 24 overs. His eventual dismissal of Gill ended a frustrating period for the hosts and gave him his first wicket in the match.
Debutant Keshara Nuwantha bowled the most overs for Sri Lanka, sending down 21 overs for 98 runs without a wicket. He did generate several false shots and was responsible for some of India’s moments of uncertainty, but his lack of consistency allowed the batters to keep scoring.
Asitha Fernando was the most economical bowler among Sri Lanka’s regular options, conceding only 28 runs in 10 overs at 2.80. Lahiru Kumara, however, conceded 51 runs from his 10 overs as India’s openers took advantage of loose deliveries.
India’s Playing XI
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel
- Manav Suthar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
Sri Lanka’s Playing XI
- Lahiru Igalagamage
- Nishan Fernando
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Kamindu Mendis
- Dhananjaya de Silva (captain)
- Sonal Dinusha
- Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper)
- Keshara Nuwantha
- Prabath Jayasuriya
- Lahiru Kumara
- Asitha Fernando
Key Match Details
| Match | Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test |
| Series | India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 |
| Venue | Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle |
| Dates | August 15-19, 2026 |
| Toss | India won the toss and elected to bat first |
| Day 1 score | India 288/2 in 73 overs |
| Run rate | 3.94 |
| Top scorer | Devdutt Padikkal 131* |
| Second-highest scorer | KL Rahul 77 retired hurt |
| Sri Lanka’s leading bowler | Prabath Jayasuriya 1/77 |
| Stumps | India 288/2 after 73 overs |
India’s Strong Position After the Opening Day
India’s 288/2 gives them a commanding platform at the end of the first day. Padikkal’s unbeaten 131 has already transformed his comeback into the defining story of the opening Test, while Pant’s aggressive late contribution ensured that the visitors finished with momentum.
The situation also leaves Sri Lanka facing an important second morning. The hosts will need early wickets to prevent Padikkal and Pant from extending India’s advantage, particularly with the Galle surface already showing signs of increasing assistance for spin.
For India, the immediate objective will be to build on the strong foundation established by Padikkal and Rahul. With Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav still to bat, the visitors have considerable depth available in their first innings.
What Happened on Day 1
India began strongly after opting to bat and reached 47 before Jaiswal’s run-out brought the first wicket. Rahul and Padikkal then produced the defining partnership of the day, taking India through the second session without losing a wicket.
Rahul reached 77 before retiring hurt, after which Gill joined Padikkal. The captain made 16 before Jayasuriya finally gave Sri Lanka a breakthrough with the ball. Pant then joined Padikkal and helped India move beyond 280 before bad light ended the day’s play.
India will resume on Day 2 at 288/2, with Padikkal unbeaten on 131 from 178 balls and Pant unbeaten on 27 from 36 deliveries. The partnership between the two batters stands at 52 from 67 balls, leaving India well placed to push towards a substantial first-innings total.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Editor at The Nation Bulletin. With over 3 years of experience in digital journalism and news reporting, he covers national affairs, governance, and breaking current events with a commitment to factual accuracy and verified reporting.
