Indian bowlers inflicted telling blows on the top order, reducing Sri Lanka to 83/2 in their second innings at lunch after skipper Shubman Gill imposed a follow-on on the fourth day of the second and final Test on Wednesday (August 26, 2026).

Pasindu Sooriyabandara (35) and Kamindu Mendis (10) were batting at the break, with the hosts still trailing by 130 runs.

Resuming from 265/8, Sonal Dinusha, who was overnight 85, compiled his second hundred in as many Tests.

But his brave knock did not help Sri Lanka avert the follow-on, getting bowled out for 290, a mere 13 runs shy of the follow-on mark.

Dinusha raced to the 90s with a six, a slog sweep, and four, again whacked to the on-side, off off-spinner Saransh Jain.

The right-hander reached the coveted three-figure with a thunderous pull off pacer Prasidh Krishna, a moment he celebrated with pride and gusto.

Sonal Dinusha celebrates after scoring a century on Day 4 of the 2nd Test match against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, in Colombo on August 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
ANI

But soon his overnight partner Lahiru Kumara departed, lofting Jain to Dhruv Jurel at covers. It was the 34-year-old’s maiden Test wicket.

Jurel returned to outfield duty as Rishabh Pant, who copped a blow on his shoulder on the second day and stayed away from the field on Tuesday (August 25), returned to don the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

Dinusha, whose arrival as a Test batter might have warmed the Lankan hearts, did not last long, perishing to Jain.

The Madhya Pradesh spinner induced a false drive from Dinusha, which was pouched by KL Rahul at slip.

Following-on, Sri Lanka were jolted by the dismissals of Lahiru Udara (3) and a set Kamil Mishara (32), who fell leg-before to Ravindra Jadeja.

Udara’s dismissal might have disappointed the Lankan management to no end, as the opener played a rather irresponsible pull off Mohammad Siraj to get caught in the deep by Jain.

Siraj later had a moment of worry he hurt himself while diving for a catch. He had to go out to get medical attention but was back on the field after some time.

India handed a debut to spin bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain as captain Shubman Gill elected to bat against Sri Lanka in the second Test on Sunday (August 23, 2026).

India have an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series, having won the opening Test at Galle by a massive 165 runs.

For Sri Lanka, batters Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooryabandara are making their Test debut.

Teams

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.

The triumph at Galle was a fitting climax to India’s 600th Test. It spread cheer in the dressing room and for Shubman Gill’s men, it was the perfect appetiser for tougher battles ahead.

At home, Sri Lanka is a resilient opposition. Lying north of the equator, the heat can wear down players, more so in Galle, located on the southern coast, and in the blink of an eye, it could rain too. This blend of shimmering mirages and sudden moisture can be unsettling.

The surfaces can evolve from featherbeds to ones that tango with spin. A young Shane Warne found his mojo with a three-for-11 spell that deflated Sri Lanka in a Test at the SSC Ground here in 1992. Reputations can be made in the Emerald Isle.

India’s 462 in the first innings meant that the reins of the game were firmly with the visitors. Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 and his partnership with K.L. Rahul built a strong edifice. And there were robust contributions from Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant. In a contest where eyes shifted between the pitch and whimsical skies, India was locked in a race against damp weather.

Thankfully there was enough sun for the first Test to spill over into the fifth day. The bowling effort was largely fine, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar being the best on view. The Rajasthan player’s match haul of ten was enough to derail the Sri Lankans.

In the Indian second innings, Pant dished out a blinder. The fact that he can alter the course of matches was reiterated again. On his day, he is a force-multiplier. And Padikkal’s 44 in the second dig was another exposition of his talent and temperament.

However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Gill would rue their average returns even as the former was unlucky to be run out in the first innings. Among the slow men, while Suthar prospered, Kuldeep Yadav was not at his best, and Ravindra Jadeja, who got his 350th Test wicket, has to sort his no-ball issue.

On the fourth day’s evening, Jadeja induced an edge from Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva and even as the catch was taken, the delivery was adjudged a no-ball. A spinner being plagued by no-balls is a bigger travesty, as fast bowlers can lean on momentum and it’s odd excess for an excuse.

It has been mentioned in the past that Kapil Dev never bowled a no-ball even in the nets. However, to any observer clued into how the Indian team practises these days, it would be obvious that over-stepping in the final bowling stride is not being scrutinised. Be it pacers or spinners, the odd full foot outside the bowling crease has been seen. At times this error gets replicated in the match.

As the team regroups for a training stint at the SSC Ground in Colombo on Friday (August 21, 2026), there is the after-glow of victory to savour, and equally there remains the need to look ahead and iron out a few glitches.

Hopping across the Palk Strait, Devdutt Padikkal has found his groove. In the warm-up fixture in Colombo, he cracked an unbeaten 142, and once he moved to Sri Lanka’s southern coast, a splendid maiden Test hundred was essayed. “I am so happy for him. He was waiting for this opportunity and the way he played was really encouraging,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said.

Talking to the media after the conclusion of the first Test’s opening day in Galle on Saturday (August 16, 2026), Kotak offered his appraisal of Padikkal: “When I was at the NCA, he was working on his initial movement; he also worked on his back foot game. When we expect there will be turn, we try and work on stepping-out, sweep or back-foot game. A lot of credit goes to him.”

Asked specifically if Padikkal’s ton has erased India’s worries over the number three slot, Kotak said: “He batted well; Sai (Sudarshan) too has batted well at that number. But the thing is, they are all new batters. We are flexible in a way. Mainly, I would look at the way they bat, about how they are adapting to conditions, how they are dealing with the different stages. How they bat is important to me more than the number they bat at.”

Kotak termed the pitch as dry and explained: “When we saw the wicket, we felt that it is on the drier side. And there is no doubt that it is on the drier side. 288 for two is a good sign for us but it is just one day and we have a long way to go. I don’t think it will crack but I think it will spin more as the game progresses. The overall record shows that as the game progresses (at Galle), the average return of the batters goes down noticeably.”

K.L. Rahul’s adaptability was also lauded and Kotak said: “In Tests he opens, in limited overs cricket he comes in at five or six. He is flexible that way and in a young team when a senior like him plays well, it always helps. He takes responsibility, builds partnerships and is consistent.”

And as for Yashasvi Jaiswal’s run out, Kotak clarified: “It is just that KL stopped halfway. Jaiswal got up and took one step. And that’s why probably that misunderstanding happened. But these things happen and it is unfortunate.”

India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka in the first Test of their two-match series on Saturday (August 15, 2026).

India named a largely unchanged playing XI from their last Test against Afghanistan in June, with Devdutt Padikkal coming in for the injured Sai Sudharsan.

Sri Lanka handed debut to off-spin bowling all-rounder Keshara Nuwantha.

Teams

India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.

India captain Shubman Gill will not take the field on the opening day of the practice match against SLC XI here on Friday (August 7, 2026) after sustaining an injury to his right finger during practice.

Gill picked up the niggle during a training session here on Thursday (August 5) and as result, K.L. Rahul is leading the side in his absence.

SLC XI has won the toss and opted to bat in the three-day practice game.

“Captain Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during India’s practice on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, he will not take the field on Day 1 of the warm-up game against SLC XI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress,” the BCCI posted on its ‘X’ handle.

“KL Rahul will lead the team in Gill’s absence.”

India are touring Sri Lanka for a two-Test series, starting at Galle on August 15.

The second Test will be played here from August 23.

The hardest thing to do in modern-day cricket is to shift gears when you are already cruising. Fresh off a 4-0 dismantling of reigning World T20 champion India in the shortest format, England will face a different kind of test from Tuesday.

Awaiting the host in the ODI series is a significantly stronger Indian side, bolstered by the return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. For England, the presence of India’s talismanic trio demands a change in the gameplan.

In a virtual interaction on Monday, opener Ben Duckett acknowledged the scale of the “challenge” but insisted that England was confident of carrying its momentum into the 50-over assignment. “Obviously, it’s a different format, so there will be slight changes. Rohit, Virat and Jasprit are three of the greatest players to play this format. Any side with them is always extremely tough to beat,” said Duckett.

“Shubman Gill is back as well, so there’s a lot of class in that side. They’re (Rohit, Kohli and Gill) players we’ve faced before, and I’m sure our bowlers will have plans for them. Jasprit is probably the best all-format bowler in the world, so any Indian side with him is always a huge challenge,” added the 31-year-old.

The left-hander, however, remained optimistic about the home side clinching the series. “We’re confident coming into this week. We’ve got a lot of guys playing well, too, so it should be a good series. We certainly fancy our chances,” he said.

Duckett reserved special praise for England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook, crediting him for fostering an “aggressive and fearless” approach within the group.

“Brookie leads by example. He wants us to play attacking cricket, and that’s exactly how he plays. He’s always looking to take wickets with attacking fields. As a batter, there aren’t many better all-format players than him in the world right now. We’re very fortunate to have him leading us.”

(Watch the three-match ODI series between England and India Live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD & Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD from July 14).

Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann was suffering from the aftereffects of staying up all night for the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal matches.

Scheduled to address the media virtually on Sunday evening, Swann — currently on broadcast duty in India for the Men in Blue’s tour of England — would not have minded more rest before facing the scribes. But when he was put on the spot, firstly with the most obvious question on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s presence in the ODI series, he responded with clarity.

Swann opined that the 39-year-old Rohit and Kohli, 37, possess the tools to succeed despite not having age on their side. “When Rohit and Virat play together, they pose a double headache for the fielding team. When India bats first, Rohit is the best I have seen… batting on a fresh pitch, taking the game away from the opposition and posting a big total,” said the 47-year-old.

“I believe that Virat is the greatest chaser we have ever witnessed; some of his knocks are stupendous. Having both is a massive bonus for India.”

He remarked that the veterans, who are one-format players nowadays, should be allowed to bow out of international cricket on their own terms. “Because of the standards Rohit and Virat have set and careers they have had, it is up to them when they want to finish. I do not think that they have much to worry about because they are still brilliant players,” Swann added.

Fresh impetus

Swann felt that the batting might of ODI skipper Shubman Gill and return of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, besides the quality of Rohit and Kohli, should provide India hope. “It is amazing to have players of that stature come straight back into the team. After the T20I series (where India was thrashed 0-4), you need fresh impetus.”

(Watch the three-match ODI series between England and India live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD & Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD from July 14).

Pretty soon, the Indian selectors will have to take a call on the future of two of the greatest players to have put bat to white ball. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma appear keen to play in the World Cup in October-November next year. India play at least 18 One-Day Internationals before that, possibly more.

On paper, the selectors’ task is straightforward: keep tabs on form and fitness, the only two metrics that matter, although Kohli turns 39 during the World Cup and Rohit will be 40 earlier.

But its seldom so simple in India. For one, should the two greats be hyphenated? Is it a Kohli-Rohit issue, or will dropping one make it easier to justify the other’s selection? Is this cricket’s version of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, where if one person withdraws, the other goes through?

Have the players been told in advance what the selectorial thinking is so they know what to expect and there will be no embarrassment? Can a ‘cricketing’ decision, which is what it will be touted as either way, be independent of the sentiment and romance attached to it?

Chairman Ajit Agarkar and his team have shown a streak of ruthlessness Indian cricket is unfamiliar with, ditching the captain who won the T20 World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav was desperately short of runs, and India’s pool in T20 cricket is so vast and so deep that it was a justified call. Fan response was muted, although that will not be the case with Kohli and Rohit. The selectors’ message, though, is simple: runs matter.

Crucial series

The three-match ODI series in England next month will be crucial. Both as an opportunity for self-assessment for the two veterans and to give the selectors some clues. Kohli, who missed the Afghanistan series with a hamstring injury, was replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal who made a century in the last match. But Jaiswal is not in the team for England (unless Kohli misses out again and he takes the older man’s place). Younger players in form shouldn’t be kept waiting for too long; it’s easy to sympathise with Jaiswal. But such are India’s riches.

Selectors have the job of balancing the past with the future while focusing on the present. Youngsters have to be given a chance to succeed, while veterans need the chance to fail, as this column has often argued. In other words, youngsters require the freedom and backing to build confidence without fear of being dropped immediately. Veterans possess an equity that entitles them to a bad run without being instantly discarded.

Skipper Shubman Gill has not looked uncomfortable with former captains playing under him. This was not always the case with India where former captains often acted like they had power but no responsibility. Gill’s inputs will be important too as he settles in for a long career as batter and captain, possibly in all three formats.

Rohit Sharma missed the 2011 World Cup which India won. The chairman of selectors then, Krishnamachari Srikkanth apologised for this a decade later. He said in a podcast, “I still feel bad for him. We just wanted more all-round options.” Rohit has come through a lot since then, including, as captain, the agony of losing the last final at home to Australia.

Kohli was a key member of that 2011 squad, starting with a century and finishing with an important partnership in the final with Gautam Gambhir.

Present matters

Not that any of that should matter to the selectors. It wouldn’t do to choose players based purely on past record or to compensate for past wrongs. The present should be all that matters here. Playing in South Africa (and Zimbabwe) means the experience of the stalwarts is important.

As things stand, Kohli probably has the better chance of making the team a year from now. His fitness has been an example to colleagues, and so too his motivation and fierce competitive spirit. Rohit might appear more laid-back but he is equally motivated and competitive. In the end, it will have to be form and fitness alone that matter.

Between now and the final selection, Kohli and Rohit will figure prominently in all discussions, an important adjunct to the main story of India’s preparation.