India tightened their grip on the 1st Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium, as they set up a comfortable first-innings advantage of 178 after bowling the hosts out for 284. Devdutt Padikkal’s stunning 167 helped India reach 462 in the first innings, and a difficult target was set to Sri Lanka on a shifting surface.
Sri Lanka started their reply terribly under severe pressure from the Indian bowling attack. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj set the early tone, dismissing Nishan Fernando off his second ball, and then India’s spinners systematically tore through the top order. Sri Lanka were in trouble at 99-5 at lunch, with the young left-arm orthodox spinner Manav Suthar proving particularly frightening, getting quick turn and bounce.
Sri Lanka fought back superbly with a counter-attacking 146-run combination between Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella, with the possibility of a follow-on looming. The duo kept India’s spin lines at bay throughout the afternoon practice with smart sweep strokes and good footwork. Dinusha anchored the fightback with a remarkable maiden Test century (100 off 168 balls) while Dickwella provided a fluent 80.
The breakthrough came; India promptly mopped up the tail, and Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for just 50 runs. Suthar led the bowling department with figures of 4 for 76, assisted ably by Ravindra Jadeja’s 3 for 57 that saw Jadeja reach his landmark 350th Test wicket. But before India could start their second innings, dark skies and heavy rain forced the umpires to call off Day 3 early with 13 overs lost. India are in control heading into Day 4 and will look to set a big target before going for the win.
Ravindra Jadeja’s 350th Test Wicket
On the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, Ravindra Jadeja took his 350th wicket, a remarkable milestone in his Test career. Keshara Nuwantha of Sri Lanka tried to hit a drive off a delivery that was spinning away in the afternoon session, but the ball ricocheted off the fielder at silly point and fell into Shubman Gill’s hands. This was a landmark moment.
Jadeja achieved this milestone and became the sixth Indian bowler to take 350 Test wickets, behind Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kapil Dev and Harbhajan Singh. He also became the first left-arm bowler from India to achieve the feat. He is third on the list of international left-arm spinners after Rangana Herath (433) and Daniel Vettori (362).
The feat, more importantly, put Jadeja into an elite international club of all-rounders with over 4,000 Test runs and 350 Test wickets. He is shown with idols Kapil Dev, Sir Ian Botham and Daniel Vettori. Indeed, he did it in under 90 Tests, better than any of the three before him, and this further enhances his reputation as one of the most accomplished and complete all-rounders of modern cricket.
Sonal Dinusha’s Maiden Ton
Sonal Dinusha’s career-defining strong performance on Day 3 of the 1st Test against India in Galle, his first Test century, was under enormous strain. The 25-year-old left-hander walked out to the middle, facing the daunting task of a follow-on against India’s spin attack with Sri Lanka in a perilous 90/5 in reply to India’s mammoth 462. Dinusha, in only his fourth Test, and Niroshan Dickwella took the innings forward with great control.
Dinusha’s strike was a lesson in tactical discipline. He interrupted the rhythm of India’s spin attack with chosen aggressiveness and excellent footwork, including sending Ravindra Jadeja for a six over midwicket. Dinusha and Dickwella added a much-needed 146 for the sixth wicket to help Sri Lanka comfortably past the follow-on mark.
He reached his historic hundred off left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, the home audience rising to its feet to give him a standing ovation. Dinusha’s four boundaries and two sixes came in a lengthy effort that lasted four hours until he was finally caught LBW by Jadeja for a gritty 100 off 168 balls. His fighting hundred handed Sri Lanka the much-needed hope they needed after a top-order collapse.
Manav Suthar was the key performer for India on Day 3
Day 3 of the Galle Test saw Manav Suthar’s effort mark India’s bowling. The left-arm orthodox spinner, who has not yet established himself at the international level, showed tactical acumen in shredding the Sri Lankan top order early on, finishing with remarkable figures of 4 for 76 in 21.4 overs.
Suthar’s first ball of the game picked up a wicket and signaled his arrival. He bowled a classic left-arm spinner’s delivery to Dinesh Chandimal, which turned sharply after coming in. Chandimal edged the ball, and it went to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. The first session belonged to India as Suthar soon had opener Lahiru Udara caught off the top edge to leave Sri Lanka at 53/3.
Suthar was the most threatening bowler for India throughout Sri Lanka’s middle-order recovery, blowing away important partnerships and mopping up the lower order as the day went on. That four-wicket haul in testing subcontinental conditions established him as one of the best young spin prodigies who can lead India’s bowling attack with the help of experienced veterans.
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Last Updated on August 17, 2026 by Aditiya Sharma
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