Like the colourful kites being flown just above the Galle International Stadium, there was a serenity in the way India tightened its grasp around the first Test. At close on the fourth day, Sri Lanka floundered at 84 for four in the second innings while pursuing a target of 372.

On a sunny Tuesday with just one brief spell of rain, India’s second innings wound up at 193, an endeavour that swelled the overall lead to 371. The host had the daunting task of surviving the final session. Sri Lanka had another headache as an injured Dinesh Chandimal was ruled out and Pasindu Sooriyabandara was fielded as the concussion substitute.

The litany of woes continued as opener Nishan Fernando perished while needlessly taking on a bouncer from Mohammed Siraj. The shot headed towards Prasidh Krishna in the deep. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar trapped Sooriyabandara for a first-ball zero and Kamindu Mendis nibbled at Prasidh’s angled delivery and found K.L. Rahul in the slips.

Opener Lahiru Udara got a start but had to retreat after tentatively prodding against Suthar. There was ambiguity over the catch that Dhruv Jurel pouched in the close-in cordon but the third umpire felt that there was no cause for doubt.

Earlier, India commenced its second innings with an added cushion of a 178-run lead. Conscious about the need to set a target and constricted by the whimsical nature of weather in this part of Sri Lanka, an urgency was evident at the batting crease. Reflecting this haste, Yashasvi Jaiswal slashed and left with a duck.

It was left to the Karnataka duo of Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal to propel the score. The latter drove with elan and the former tapped into his flamboyant ODI avatar even while being clad in Test whites. Rahul hoisted Prabath Jayasuriya twice for six and also unfurled a slog-swept four. But when he tried to extend the fifth gear, a mistimed lofted shot helped Prabath strike back.

Meanwhile, Padikkal cruised at a merry pace and saw skipper Shubman Gill get trapped in front while attempting a sweep. Eventually the first innings centurion too left with a ruffled pad as off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha found his mark. India was 116 for four at lunch and after the break, lost Jurel, who feathered one down the leg-side.

The stage was set for the southpaws as Rishabh Pant (66, 69b, 8x4, 2x6) and Ravindra Jadeja joined forces. Pant, audacious and irreverent, played his shots and left the fielders nervous, specifically at third-man and fine-leg, as he attempted scoops and reverse hits. After relying on spin, captain Dhananjaya de Silva then leant on pacer Lahiru Kumara. Bounce and hope for a top-edge, was the obvious plan.

When Kumara pitched it short, Pant swivelled and pounded one past fine-leg. He also toppled when trying an upper-cut and was the fire to Jadeja’s ice. The duo eventually succumbed to Kumara’s tactics and despite the tail wilting, India had a lead adequate enough to deflate the host.

Published - August 18, 2026 02:59 pm IST