Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of India’s captain Shubman Gill during the first day of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on August 23, 2026. Photo: AFP
COLOMBO: India built a solid platform on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday, reaching 193-3 just after tea with Devdutt Padikkal unbeaten on 67 after captain Shubman Gill (50) completed a patient half-century.
India, who won the toss and elected to bat at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul early before Gill and Padikkal steadied the innings with a century partnership.
Padikkal was 67 not out from 122 balls, having struck seven fours, while wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant was unbeaten on one as India moved through 53.4 overs at a scoring rate of 3.59.
Sri Lanka’s seamers made early inroads, with Asitha Fernando taking two wickets and Lahiru Kumara claiming one. But the hosts struggled to make further breakthroughs during the long partnership between Gill and Padikkal.
Jaiswal fell for 45, edging Fernando, after India had moved to 66-2. Rahul had earlier been dismissed for 18, caught by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella off Kumara.
Gill then joined Padikkal and helped India recover, bringing up his 50 from 99 balls with six fours. The pair added 120 for the third wicket before Fernando dismissed Gill for 50 in the 52nd over.
Gill’s departure briefly checked India’s progress, but Padikkal remained in control as Pant joined him at the crease.
India reached 150 in the 42nd over and appeared increasingly comfortable against a Sri Lankan attack that included three frontline seamers and two specialist spinners.
Prabath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s most economical spinner, conceding 54 runs from 17 overs, while debutant Saransh Jain remained among India’s players yet to bat.
The Colombo pitch offered enough assistance for the seamers early on, but India’s middle order gradually took control as the ball softened.
