India were dismissed for 193 in their second innings at Galle, giving Sri Lanka a challenging target of 372 runs to win the first Test match.
India's batting lineup faltered in their second innings at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, managing only 193 runs across 48.5 overs. Rishabh Pant led the visitors' scoring with 66 runs, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 44 and KL Rahul added 35 to the total. Sri Lanka's bowling attack proved effective in restricting India's run flow, with Asitha Fernando spearheading the effort by taking four wickets for 31 runs. Prabath Jayasuriya captured three wickets for 43 runs, and Lahiru Kumara claimed two for 28.
India had established a commanding position earlier in the Test after posting 462 runs in their first innings. Sri Lanka's reply yielded 284 runs, with Sonal Dinusha scoring a century and Niroshan Dickwella contributing 80 runs. This gave India a substantial first-innings lead of 178 runs, which they extended through their second-innings total.
With a target of 372 runs now set, Sri Lanka faces a significant challenge in their final innings. The Galle pitch is expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome, with India's bowlers anticipated to exploit the surface conditions in their pursuit of victory on what remains a demanding surface for batting in the final innings.
