GALLE, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Keshara Nuwantha and Prabath Jayasuriya shared seven wickets between them, but India remained firmly in control after reaching 460 for 9 on day two of the first Test at Galle on August 16, 2026. Devdutt Padikkal converted his overnight 131 into 167, while Dhruv Jurel added 51 as India pushed towards a formidable first-innings total on another rain-interrupted day.
Key Highlights
- India finished day two on 460 for 9 after only 43 overs were possible because of rain.
- Devdutt Padikkal extended his overnight 131 to 167 before being stumped by Niroshan Dickwella off Prabath Jayasuriya.
- Keshara Nuwantha claimed three wickets, including his maiden Test wicket when Rishabh Pant was dismissed.
- Prabath Jayasuriya finished with four wickets for 109 runs, while Dhruv Jurel scored 51.
Nuwantha Finds His Rhythm With the New Ball
Sri Lanka’s strongest period came after the second new ball became available seven overs into the day’s play. Nuwantha was retained with the new ball and responded with greater accuracy, sharp turn and natural variation.
His first major breakthrough came when Rishabh Pant advanced at a delivery outside off but failed to reach the pitch of the ball. Pant sliced the shot towards wide mid-off, where a good running catch gave Nuwantha his maiden Test wicket.
The debutant then removed KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja. Rahul, who had earlier retired hurt after cramps interrupted his innings, was caught at bat-pad after the ball turned sharply and bounced. Jadeja was subsequently trapped lbw, with the review confirming an umpire’s-call decision as the ball was projected to clip the outside of leg stump.
Padikkal Continues His Commanding Innings
While Sri Lanka’s bowlers were making inroads, Padikkal continued to control the innings. Starting the day unbeaten on 131, he used the depth of the crease effectively against spin and reached 150 from 215 balls, with 14 fours and one six.
His innings finally ended on 167 when he advanced against Jayasuriya but missed a shorter delivery outside off. Dickwella collected cleanly and completed the stumping, ending an innings that had put India in a strong position.
Jayasuriya Provides Sri Lanka With More Breakthroughs
Jayasuriya’s four-wicket haul included the dismissal of Shubman Gill, who advanced down the track but could not clear mid-off. The wicket was particularly significant for Jayasuriya as it ended his Galle drought.
After removing Padikkal, the left-arm spinner later dismissed Jurel and Manav Suthar. Jurel’s dismissal came through an outstanding one-handed catch by Dhananjaya de Silva at slip after the ball dipped and turned to produce a leading edge.
Jurel and Suthar Build an Important Partnership
India were 377 for 6 when Dhruv Jurel and Manav Suthar began a 55-run partnership. Jurel’s half-century came from 66 balls and included four fours and one six.
His innings was relatively understated, but two forceful pulls against Lahiru Kumara stood out. The partnership gave India valuable lower-order runs after Sri Lanka had begun to make regular breakthroughs.
India Look for Quick Runs Late in the Day
Mohammed Siraj was promoted in the order as India appeared intent on adding runs quickly before the close. He struck Nuwantha for a six but was dismissed for 11 by Asitha Fernando, who used a slower delivery after a sequence of shorter balls.
Suthar followed soon after, advancing against Jayasuriya but miscuing the shot to long-on. India ended the day at 460 for 9, with Kuldeep Yadav unbeaten on 12 and Prasidh Krishna on 1.
Rain Continues to Disrupt the Test
The second day began with India on 288 for 2 after rain had already affected the match. Only 43 overs were possible on day two, leaving India with limited time to extend their advantage.
Despite the interruptions, India maintained a scoring rate of 3.96 runs per over across 116 overs. The last 10 overs produced 47 runs for three wickets, reflecting the late push for a larger total.
India vs Sri Lanka Full Scorecard
India 1st Innings — 460/9 in 116 Overs
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | run out (Jayasuriya/Dickwella) | 32 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 86.48 |
| KL Rahul | c KNM Fernando b Nuwantha | 82 | 175 | 10 | 1 | 46.85 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | st Dickwella b Jayasuriya | 167 | 230 | 15 | 1 | 72.60 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | c Igalagamage b Jayasuriya | 16 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Rishabh Pant † | c Dinusha b Nuwantha | 39 | 62 | 4 | 1 | 62.90 |
| Dhruv Jurel | c de Silva b Jayasuriya | 51 | 68 | 4 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | lbw b Nuwantha | 13 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 52.00 |
| Manav Suthar | c Igalagamage b Jayasuriya | 24 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 55.81 |
| Mohammed Siraj | c de Silva b AM Fernando | 11 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 73.33 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | not out | 12 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 92.30 |
| Prasidh Krishna | not out | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Extras | b 4, lb 3, nb 4, w 1 | 12 | ||||
| Total | 116 Ov (RR: 3.96) | 460/9 | ||||
Fall of Wickets
1-47 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 10.6 ov), 1-197* (KL Rahul, retired not out), 2-236 (Shubman Gill, 61.5 ov), 3-307 (Rishabh Pant, 80.4 ov), 4-319 (KL Rahul, 84.1 ov), 5-357 (Devdutt Padikkal, 91.3 ov), 6-377 (Ravindra Jadeja, 98.1 ov), 7-432 (Dhruv Jurel, 109.1 ov), 8-447 (Mohammed Siraj, 112.6 ov), 9-447 (Manav Suthar, 113.1 ov).
Sri Lanka Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 17 | 1 | 61 | 1 | 3.58 | 72 | 0 | 1 |
| Lahiru Kumara | 13 | 1 | 76 | 0 | 5.84 | 46 | 1 | 0 |
| Keshara Nuwantha | 39 | 1 | 175 | 3 | 4.48 | 136 | 0 | 3 |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | 39 | 6 | 109 | 4 | 2.79 | 170 | 0 | 0 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 3.75 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Sonal Dinusha | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 4.25 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
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
Match Details
- Match: 1st Test, India tour of Sri Lanka
- Venue: Galle
- Dates: August 15-19, 2026
- Day: Day 2
- Toss: India elected to bat first
- India score: 460/9 in 116 overs
- Current run rate: 3.96
- Last 10 overs: 47/3 at 4.70
- Close of play: India 460/9 (Kuldeep Yadav 12*, Prasidh Krishna 1*)
- Hours of play: 10:00 start; Lunch 12:00-12:40; Tea 14:40-15:00; Close 17:00
India’s Playing Situation at Stumps
India went into the second day with a strong position after reaching 288 for 2 on day one. Padikkal’s 167, Rahul’s 82 and Jurel’s 51 ensured that Sri Lanka’s seven wickets could not prevent India from moving close to 500.
Sri Lanka’s immediate task will be to finish the innings quickly and then negotiate a pitch that has already begun showing more turn. Nuwantha’s three-wicket effort and Jayasuriya’s four-for have provided encouragement, but India retain the advantage with one wicket still standing and a substantial first-innings total already on the board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker on day two?
Prabath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker, finishing with four wickets for 109 runs from 39 overs.
How many wickets did Keshara Nuwantha take?
Keshara Nuwantha claimed three wickets for 175 runs in 39 overs, including his maiden Test wicket when he dismissed Rishabh Pant.
What Happens Next
India will resume at 460 for 9 with Kuldeep Yadav unbeaten on 12 and Prasidh Krishna on 1. Sri Lanka will look to take the final wicket quickly before beginning their first innings on a surface expected to offer increasing assistance to spin.
Source attribution: This report and scorecard are based exclusively on the supplied match report, scorecard and match details.
