Pant’s Fiery 66 Sets Sri Lanka 372 to Win as India Collapse for 193 in Second Innings

Galle, Aug 2026 : India were bowled out for 193 in their second innings against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday, setting the hosts a challenging target of 372 runs to win the first Test. Rishabh Pant’s attacking half-century provided the highlight of India’s fourth-day batting effort, while Sri Lanka’s pace attack repeatedly troubled the visitors with short-pitched deliveries.

Pant top-scored for India with a brisk 66 off 69 balls, while Devdutt Padikkal and KL Rahul contributed 44 and 35 respectively. For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando was the standout bowler with 4/31, while left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya claimed three wickets. Lahiru Kumara took two and Keshara Nuwantha one.

India resumed their second innings with a 178-run lead and adopted an aggressive approach from the outset. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal fell in the opening over to Fernando, putting early pressure on the visitors.

Rahul and Padikkal responded confidently, putting together a valuable 65-run partnership for the second wicket. Rahul initially adopted a cautious approach but gradually opened up, hitting two sixes and two fours during his 35-run stay.

Padikkal, who had scored a superb 167 in India’s first innings, continued his impressive match with another composed knock. He struck six boundaries in his 44 before Jayasuriya ended the partnership by having Rahul caught at deep mid-off.

India captain Shubman Gill failed to make an impact, scoring just eight before Jayasuriya trapped him leg before wicket. Despite the setbacks, Pant remained composed and helped India reach 116/4 at lunch, with the overall lead stretching to 294 runs.

After the interval, Pant shifted gears and took the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers. The wicketkeeper-batter combined aggression with controlled strokeplay, particularly using sweeps and reverse sweeps against Nuwantha.

Pant also created a personal milestone when he struck two sixes off Kumara. The second six took him to 100 sixes in Test cricket, making him the first Indian batter to reach the landmark. The same stroke brought up his half-century.

However, Pant’s entertaining innings ended shortly afterwards. Kumara produced another short delivery, prompting Pant to attempt a pull. He failed to control the shot and top-edged it to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Sri Lanka continued to make effective use of the short-ball strategy. Kumara then dismissed Ravindra Jadeja after the Indian all-rounder miscued a pull towards deep backward square leg, where substitute Pasindu Sooriyabandara completed the catch.

The Indian lower order offered brief resistance. Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav attempted to prolong the innings, with Suthar hitting a boundary off Nuwantha. Fernando, however, struck again, inducing an edge from another short delivery that Dickwella held comfortably.

Jayasuriya then removed Kuldeep for five after the batter was caught at slip. Fernando completed his four-wicket haul by dismissing Prasidh Krishna, who fended at a short delivery and was caught behind for two.

India’s innings ended at 193, with the visitors holding a substantial overall advantage despite losing their final six wickets relatively quickly. The innings also ended almost 20 minutes before the scheduled tea interval.

Sri Lanka had earlier been dismissed for 284 in their first innings, with Sonal Dinusha scoring a century and Niroshan Dickwella making 80. India’s Manav Suthar was the leading wicket-taker with 4/76, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed 3/57.

With 371 runs separating the teams after India’s second innings, Sri Lanka now face a daunting target of 372. India will look to their bowlers to complete the job and take a decisive lead in the Test.