Colombo, Aug 2026 : India remained in a strong position at tea on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground on Sunday, with captain Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal scoring half-centuries before Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando provided a late breakthrough.
India reached 187/3 in 52 overs at the tea interval, with Padikkal unbeaten on 63 and Rishabh Pant yet to open his account. The visitors dominated much of the second session as Gill and Padikkal put together a 120-run partnership for the third wicket, before Fernando dismissed the Indian captain for 50.
After losing wickets at regular intervals in the first session, India needed a stabilising partnership, and Gill and Padikkal delivered exactly that. The pair negotiated the Sri Lankan attack patiently before gradually increasing the scoring rate on a surface that continued to offer some assistance to the bowlers.
Padikkal, who was dropped on zero, made the most of his reprieve. After initially dealing with some uncomfortable short-pitched deliveries, the left-hander grew increasingly confident and began finding the boundaries with well-timed drives, cuts and pulls.
He brought up his half-century from 90 balls, striking a boundary through the covers off spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. His composed innings included seven boundaries and demonstrated his ability to adapt to challenging conditions.
Gill also appeared increasingly assured after a difficult outing in the first Test in Galle, where he managed scores of just 16 and eight. The Indian captain showed greater authority in Colombo, particularly with his front-foot strokeplay.
Gill reached his ninth Test half-century from 99 balls and his first fifty in Sri Lanka when he flicked a delivery towards fine leg for a single. His partnership with Padikkal helped India regain control after the early setbacks.
Sri Lanka attempted to frustrate the Indian batters by employing defensive lines, with Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha frequently bowling down the leg side. The tactic resulted in several wides as the hosts struggled to maintain pressure.
Just when India appeared set to finish the session without further damage, Fernando produced an important breakthrough. The pacer bowled a length delivery outside off stump, prompting Gill to attempt a loose slash. The ball took the edge and was held by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella on his second attempt.
Fernando then came close to removing Pant with a full, swinging delivery that struck the batter on the pads. Sri Lanka appealed loudly for lbw, but the umpire rejected the appeal, with replays indicating that the ball was likely to have missed the leg stump.
With Padikkal well settled and Pant at the crease, India will look to strengthen their position in the final session. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will hope the second new-ball threat and spin options can produce further wickets before the close of play.
Brief Scores: India 187/3 in 52 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 63*, Shubman Gill 50; Asitha Fernando 2-34, Lahiru Kumara 1-33) vs Sri Lanka.
