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.

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.

Pasindu Sooriyabandara scored an unbeaten half-century but India’s Prasidh Krishna made a vital breakthrough to end an important partnership and have Sri Lanka in trouble at 130 for four at lunch on Day 3 of the second cricket Test.

At the first interval on Tuesday (August 25, 2026), Sri Lanka trailed India’s first-innings total by 373 runs. Sooriyabandara was unbeaten on 65 and captain Dhananjaya de Silva was not out on 4.

India declared its first innings at 503 for nine on Day 2, helped by 117 runs from Devdutt Padikkal and Druv Jurel’s unbeaten 115.

Sri Lanka was rattled early in reply, slipping to 8 for two by stumps and then losing overnight batter Kamil Mishara (19) with the total on 35.

Sooriyabandara, who was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the first Test in Galle while batting as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal, appeared composed despite the precarious start to Sri Lanka’s innings. He mixed caution and attack in his 93-ball stand, hitting nine boundaries.

His 87-run partnership off 126 deliveries with Kamindu Mendis (32) helped revive Sri Lanka’s innings but that ended shortly before lunch when Mendis hit a ball from Krishna to Ravindra Jadeja at midwicket.

Krishna led India’s attacking with bowling figures of 3-35, with spin bowler Manav Suthar also taking a wicket.

Only 58 overs of play was possible because of rain on Day 2, and more rain Tuesday (August 25) threatened to shorten the match further.

India leads the two-match series after defeating Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle.

A gentle passing of the baton is on in Indian cricket and this one is centred around left-arm spin.

Just as Ravindra Jadeja copes with sporting twilight, his successor could well be Manav Suthar. The duo was among the wickets in the first innings of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium.

Suthar, who made his debut against Afghanistan earlier this year, grabbed four wickets while his senior colleague gained three. “Our main focus was to get wickets in the first session. We did the same in the second session but Sri Lanka batted well. Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella played well and kept rotating the strike. But we got results in the third session,” Suthar told the media on Monday.

Even as Sri Lanka held firm between lunch and tea, Suthar said that the plans were clear: “Our main focus was to get them out and what could be the best mode of dismissal. Even if a wicket didn’t fall in that session, we just focused on creating opportunities.”

After his Test debut, Suthar trained with the Kookaburra ball as it is used in Sri Lanka: “I was practising with the Kookaburra ball after the Afghanistan Test and my plan has always been to bowl in good areas. The Sri Lankan spinners varied their pace and on this pitch, the more consistent you are, the more purchase you get.”

Suthar dismissed Dinesh Chandimal with his very first delivery. “It is a very good feeling to get a wicket off the first ball. It gives you a lot of confidence. The pitch here has some bounce and it has been a good experience to bowl on this surface.”

He also clarified that issues like the ball going soft and the strong breeze did not affect his rhythm.