India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test: Devdutt Padikkal produced a superb 117 to lead India to 300/5 at stumps on the opening day of the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test in Colombo, while Asitha Fernando claimed three wickets for Sri Lanka.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Devdutt Padikkal’s 117 put India in a strong position as they closed Day 1 at 300/5 after 85 overs in the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on August 23, 2026. India elected to bat first and recovered from early wickets through Padikkal’s century and valuable contributions from Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja.
- Key Highlights:
- India finished Day 1 at 300/5 after batting first.
- Devdutt Padikkal scored 117 from 193 balls with 12 fours.
- Shubman Gill made 50, while Ravindra Jadeja contributed 43.
- Asitha Fernando returned 3/46 from 16 overs for Sri Lanka.
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test: Padikkal anchors first innings
India lost KL Rahul early after the side chose to bat first. Rahul scored 18 from 33 balls, hitting two fours and a six, before Lahiru Kumara got the breakthrough. Rahul attempted a cut shot but top-edged the ball to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, leaving India at 37/1 in 10.4 overs.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had made a quick start with nine fours, followed at 66/2. He scored 45 from 53 deliveries before Asitha Fernando produced a delivery that moved in and found the inside edge before hitting the stumps.
India reached lunch at 88/2 after 25 overs, with Padikkal and captain Shubman Gill beginning the rebuilding process. India crossed 100 in 29.3 overs and gradually strengthened their position through the third-wicket partnership.
Gill and Padikkal build India’s innings
The partnership between Padikkal and Gill gave India control after the early wickets. Their third-wicket stand reached 50 runs in 96 balls and then crossed the 100-run mark in 166 deliveries.
Padikkal brought up his half-century from 90 balls with seven fours, while Gill completed his fifty from 99 deliveries with six boundaries. The partnership pushed India past 150 before Sri Lanka finally found a breakthrough.
Gill was dismissed for 50 from 108 balls at 186/3 in the 52nd over. He attempted a swipe at a short and wide delivery from Fernando and edged the ball behind. Dickwella initially spilled the chance but completed the catch on his second attempt.
India went into the tea interval at 187/3, with Padikkal unbeaten on 63. Rishabh Pant had just arrived at the crease and was yet to make an impact.
Pant retires hurt as India cross 200
India crossed the 200-run mark in 55.3 overs, but Pant’s innings was interrupted shortly afterwards. The wicketkeeper-batter retired hurt at 207/3 after scoring 3 from 15 balls.
Padikkal continued his innings alongside Ravindra Jadeja. India reached 250 in 69.1 overs after the fourth-wicket pair added a 50-run partnership in 75 balls.
Padikkal reached his century from 168 balls, having struck 10 fours by the time he reached the landmark. He eventually scored 117 from 193 deliveries with 12 boundaries.
Keshara Nuwantha finally dismissed Padikkal at 281/4 in the 77th over. The Sri Lankan bowler delivered a quicker, flatter ball that turned away, beat Padikkal’s outside edge and hit the off stump.
Jadeja’s 43 keeps India moving
Jadeja played a steady innings after joining Padikkal and scored 43 from 83 balls, including four fours. His contribution helped India maintain their progress after Padikkal’s departure.
India took the new ball at the start of the 81st over, giving Sri Lanka an opportunity to strike late in the day. Fernando made the most of the new ball by removing Jadeja at 296/5 in the 85th over.
Jadeja left a delivery outside off, but the ball jagged back and struck the top of the off stump. His dismissal gave Fernando his third wicket of the innings and left India with a new lower-order pair at the crease.
Full India batting scorecard after Day 1
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | b Fernando | 45 | 53 | 9 | 0 | 84.90 |
| KL Rahul | c †Dickwella b Kumara | 18 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 54.54 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | b Nuwantha | 117 | 193 | 12 | 0 | 60.62 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | c †Dickwella b Fernando | 50 | 108 | 6 | 0 | 46.29 |
| Rishabh Pant † | retired hurt | 3 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | b Fernando | 43 | 83 | 4 | 0 | 51.80 |
| Dhruv Jurel | not out | 7 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Saransh Jain | not out | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
Yet to bat: Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Extras: 13 (b 4, lb 3, nb 1, w 5)
Total: 300/5 in 85 overs (Run Rate: 3.52)
India fall of wickets
- 1-37 — KL Rahul, 10.4 overs
- 2-66 — Yashasvi Jaiswal, 16.6 overs
- 3-186 — Shubman Gill, 51.5 overs
- 3-207 — Rishabh Pant, retired hurt
- 4-281 — Devdutt Padikkal, 76.2 overs
- 5-296 — Ravindra Jadeja, 84.1 overs
Full Sri Lanka bowling scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 16 | 5 | 46 | 3 | 2.87 |
| Lahiru Kumara | 13 | 4 | 38 | 1 | 2.92 |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | 27 | 4 | 90 | 0 | 3.33 |
| Keshara Nuwantha | 22 | 0 | 93 | 1 | 4.22 |
| Sonal Dinusha | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4.00 |
| Kamil Mishara | 4 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 4.00 |
Match flow: How India’s innings progressed
India reached 50 in 15.1 overs and were 88/2 at lunch. The side crossed 100 in 29.3 overs and moved to 150 in 41.4 overs before Gill’s dismissal changed the course of the afternoon session.
At tea, India were 187/3. The side reached 200 in 55.3 overs, while Pant retired hurt at 207/3. By the 69th over, India had moved to 249/3 before crossing 250 one ball later.
Padikkal’s century and Jadeja’s contribution carried India towards 300, but Sri Lanka’s late strikes ensured the visitors did not finish the day without further setbacks. India reached 300 in 84.3 overs and eventually closed at 300/5 after 85 overs.
Sri Lanka playing XI and Day 2 situation
Sri Lanka’s playing XI features Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando.
At stumps, Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 7 and Saransh Jain remained not out on 4. India will resume their first innings on Day 2 from 300/5, with Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna still to bat.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
