India beat Sri Lanka in 1st Test, 1st Test, India tour of Sri Lanka 2026
Finally, some great news is coming from indian cricket after a long time. India beat Sri Lanka in 1st Test, 1st Test, India tour of Sri Lanka 2026. Here are the full highlights of the 1st Test — India vs Sri Lanka, Galle 2026:
SRI LANKA vs INDIA — 1ST TEST
Galle International Stadium | 15–19 August 2026
India won by 165 runs
📊 FINAL SCORECARD
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | 462 | 193 |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 284 | 206 (target 372) |
STAR OF THE MATCH — MANAV SUTHAR
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar claimed a 10-wicket match haul — including a superb 6/55 in the second innings — as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 206 while defending a target of 372.
Suthar capped off a phenomenal performance by bowling Keshara Nuwantha to secure the 165-run victory, with his quicker delivery skidding off the deck and catching the batter on the back foot — the inside edge ricocheting onto the stumps to spark jubilant celebrations.
DAY-BY-DAY HIGHLIGHTS
🗓️ Day 1–2 — India’s Dominant First Innings
India elected to bat first and posted a commanding total of 462 in the first innings. ESPNcricinfo
Rishabh Pant turned the mundane into the exciting on a pitch that was not only turning but going up and down. He found unique ways to score runs — dancing down and flat-batting short balls down the ground, and sensationally pulling balls behind square. One of those pulls brought up his fifty and his 100th career six.
🗓️ Day 2–3 — Sri Lanka’s First Innings
Sri Lanka responded with 284. Suthar took a 4-fer in the first innings, giving India a healthy lead of 178 runs.
🗓️ Day 4 — India’s Second Innings & Declaration
Rishabh Pant’s maverick innings of 66 off 69 balls in the second innings made sure India all but batted Sri Lanka out of the Test. Devdutt Padikkal contributed 44 as India posted 193, leaving Sri Lanka a target of 372.
At stumps on Day 4, Sri Lanka were 84/4 — needing 288 runs to win.
🗓️ Day 5 — India’s Bowling Masterclass
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva fought hard with a 151-ball 59, while Sonal Dinusha followed up his first-innings century with a fighting 84 — giving Sri Lanka brief hope.
It was Jadeja who broke the crucial 95-run stand, getting Dhananjaya for 59 with a top-edge sweep that landed into the hands of Suthar at short fine leg.
Once Suthar got Dinusha out in the 76th over, he ran through the rest — ending up with four wickets in 10 balls — making the new ball unnecessary. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 206.
🎯 KEY PERFORMERS
India — Top Performers
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Manav Suthar | 10 wickets in match (4/? + 6/55) — Player of the Match |
| Rishabh Pant | 66 off 69 balls (2nd innings) — including 100th career six |
| Devdutt Padikkal | 44 (2nd innings) |
| KL Rahul | Solid contribution in 1st innings |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 2/16 — crucial breakthrough of de Silva |
| Mohammed Siraj | 1/11 — consistent pressure |
| Prasidh Krishna | Key wickets in 2nd innings |
Sri Lanka — Top Performers
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Sonal Dinusha | Century in 1st innings + 84 in 2nd innings |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 59 (2nd innings) — fighting knock |
| Asitha Fernando | 4/31 (India 2nd innings) |
| Lahiru Kumara | Consistent bowling effort |
🏆 SERIES & WTC IMPACT
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series lead | India 1–0 (2-match series) |
| WTC points | India earned 12 crucial World Test Championship points |
| Significance | A welcome win for a young transitioning India team that had lost two out of its last three series in spin-friendly conditions at home |
| Historic note | This was India’s 600th Test match |
| Next match | 2nd Test — India vs Sri Lanka |
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