Galle Conquered: Suthar and Padikkal Power India to a Commanding 165-Run Victory over Sri Lanka

Taking twenty wickets on a Galle dustbowl is never a walk in the park. It demands patience, relentless accuracy, and ice-cold composure under pressure. Shubman Gill’s new-look Test side delivered all three in abundance, dismantling Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the series opener to take a 1-0 lead.

DailyCricInfo brings you the complete, blow-by-blow report of India’s clinical triumph at Galle International Stadium.

Padikkal Sets Up the Fortress

Winning the toss and batting first was half the battle won. But putting runs on the board in Galle is another challenge altogether.

Devdutt Padikkal stepped up when it mattered most. Batting with calm authority and crisp footwork against the spinners, Padikkal compiled a magnificent 167 off 230 deliveries. KL Rahul provided the veteran stability with a composed 82, while Dhruv Jurel added late firepower with a sharp 51. Despite Prabath Jayasuriya toiling away for his 4 for 109, India racked up a massive first-innings total of 462.

Dinusha Fights, But India Grabs the Lead

Sri Lanka looked down and out early in their first innings. The pitch was turning, and India’s spinners attacked the stumps immediately.

Then Sonal Dinusha stood tall. He battled for a gritty maiden century (100 off 168 balls) alongside Niroshan Dickwella’s punchy 80 to keep the hosts in the hunt. But the truth is, India’s attack never took its foot off the pedal.

Debutant spinner Manav Suthar turned heads with a magical spell of 4 for 76, while Ravindra Jadeja cleaned up the rest with 3 for 57. Sri Lanka folded for 284, conceding a massive 178-run lead.

Pant's Blitz and Suthar’s Final Day Rampage

India went for quick runs in the second essay. Asitha Fernando ripped through the top order with 4 for 31, but Rishabh Pant had other plans.

Pant smoked 66 off just 69 deliveries, clearing the ropes with ease and stretching India’s total to 193. That set Sri Lanka a daunting target of 372.

Could the hosts pull off an improbable Day 5 miracle?

Not on Manav Suthar's watch.

Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (59) and the resilient Sonal Dinusha (84) offered stern resistance during a 95-run stand. But once Suthar found the outside edge to break the partnership, the collapse came swift and ruthless. Suthar bagged a sensational 6 for 55 in the second innings, finishing with a match haul of 10 wickets, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206.

With this 165-run victory, India heads into the second Test at Colombo brimming with confidence.

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