Devdutt Padikkal's impressive 167 leads India to a strong position, despite Sri Lanka's spinners making inroads on a rain-affected second day.
Shillong, India Aug 17, 2026 ALN: Galle: Sri Lanka struck back through spinners but Devdutt Padikkal's elegant 167 powered India to a commanding 460-9 in the rain-plagued opening Test in Galle on Sunday.
Sri Lanka's spin pair of Prabath Jayasuriya (4-109) and Keshara Nuwantha (3-175) kept the hosts in the match, but India scored nearly at four-an-over rate to finish in a position of strength.
Kuldeep Yadav (12) and Prasidh Krishna (one) were batting when stumps were drawn on day two.
Play was supposed to start 15 minutes early after only 73 overs could be bowled at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday.
Instead, players were confined to the dressing room for nearly four hours waiting for the cover to come off the pitch.
Rishabh Pant (39) looked in a hurry to score but he became debutant Nuwantha's first Test victim after charging out and skying the ball to the fielder at deep mid-wicket.
Opener KL Rahul, who had retired hurt on 77 on Saturday after suffering cramps, came out to bat but fell short of a hundred that looked there for the taking.
Rahul made 82 before flicking a Nuwantha delivery into the waiting hands of Nishan Fernando at forward short leg.
Jayasuriya ended Padikkal's fine knock when the spinner lured the batter out of his crease and had him stumped. Padikkal hit 15 fours and a six in his maiden Test hundred. Nuwantha removed Ravindra Jadeja (13), but Dhruv Jurel raced to a breezy 51.
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who had dropped Jurel on 29, took a sensational catch to remove the batter but could not polish off India's tail.
Scoreboard
India: 1st innings
Yashasvi Jaiswal run out (Dickwella) 32
KL Rahul c Madushka b Nuwantha 82
Devdutt Padikkal st Dickwella b Jayasuriya 167
*Shubman Gill c Udara b Jayasuriya 16
Rishabh Pant c Dinusha b Nuwantha 39
Dhruv Jurel c de Silva b Jayasuriya 51
Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Nuwantha 13
Manav Suthar c Udara b Jayasuriya 24
Mohammed Siraj c de Silva b Fernando 11
Kuldeep Yadav not out 12
Prasidh Krishna not out 1
Extras: 12; Total: 460-9 (116)
FOW: Jaiswal (47-1, 11), Gill (236-2, 61.5), Pant (308-3, 80.4), Rahul (320-4, 84.1), Padikkal (357-5, 91.3), Jadeja (377-6, 98.1), Jurel (432-7, 109.1), Siraj (447-8, 113), Suthar (447-9, 113.1)
Bowling:
Asitha Fernando 17 1 61 1
Lahiru Kumara 13 1 76 0
Keshara Nuwantha 39 1 175 3
Prabath Jayasuriya 39 6 109 4
*Dhananjaya de Silva 4 0 15 0 Sonal Dinusha 4 0 17 0
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