Sri Lanka mounted a spirited second-innings response led by half-centuries from Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis, but India's spinners reasserted dominance late on day four to leave the match delicately poised heading into the final day.

Sri Lanka appeared to have wrestled momentum away from India during day four of their Test match at the Sinhalese Sports Club, with promising batting performances threatening to keep the hosts in the contest. Pasindu Sooriyabandara, playing only his second Test match and first in the starting lineup, combined effectively with other middle-order batsmen to build substantial partnerships. His 92-run contribution across the second innings was complemented by Kamindu Mendis's 55, as the pair steadied the innings during a period when India's bowlers appeared increasingly fatigued.

At one stage, Sri Lanka reached 209 for 3 in their follow-on, trailing by just four runs with seven wickets remaining on a pitch that continued to favour batting. India's bowling attack had completed 149 overs across both innings without achieving decisive breakthroughs, prompting questions about their ability to break through a resilient Sri Lankan top order. However, this promising position proved short-lived as momentum swiftly reversed.

Spinner Manav Suthar orchestrated a dramatic collapse, removing both Dhananjaya de Silva and Sooriyabandara in consecutive overs, with the latter falling agonisingly eight runs short of a maiden Test century. Saransh Jain subsequently trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw, and Sri Lanka slipped from relative stability to 5 for 6, effectively surrendering their advantage. The rapid deterioration of the innings left Sri Lanka at 229 for 6 when rain brought an early close to proceedings.

Sonal Dinusha emerged as Sri Lanka's standout performer throughout the series, having compiled his second century in the first innings and now batting on 7 in the second. His continued presence at the crease offers the hosts their primary hope as the match enters its final day, though India's restored ascendancy suggests they hold the initiative going forward.