The initial Test between Sri Lanka and India in 2026 held in Galle became an unforgettable five-day battle, culminating in a solid 165-run victory for India against the home team. Played at the Galle International Stadium from August 15 to August 19, this result provided India with a 1-0 advantage in the two-match series.
India’s triumph was anchored by an impressive first-innings total of 462 runs, which was followed by a disciplined bowling display that confined Sri Lanka to 284 runs. India added 193 runs in their second innings, setting Sri Lanka a target of 372. The home team fought valiantly but was ultimately bowled out for 206, resulting in a 165-run win for India.
Remarkable individual displays were highlighted by India’s Devdutt Padikkal, who scored an outstanding 167 runs, and left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who achieved a remarkable 10-wicket haul. Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha also had a noteworthy performance, scoring a century in the first innings and 84 runs in the second.
Sri Lanka vs India 1st Test 2026 Match Recap
The final scorecard was:
- Team: India | Innings: 1st Innings | Score: 462 all out
- Team: Sri Lanka | Innings: 1st Innings | Score: 284 all out
- Team: India | Innings: 2nd Innings | Score: 193 all out
- Team: Sri Lanka | Innings: 2nd Innings | Score: 206 all out
Outcome: India emerged victorious by 165 runs.
The significant total that India amassed in their first innings provided them a considerable edge. With Sri Lanka managing only 284 runs, India took a substantial first-innings lead of 178 runs into their second batting session.
India’s second innings was brief, as the visitors aimed to set a target rather than simply build up their score. Rishabh Pant’s aggressive 66 runs pushed India rapidly toward a defendable score.
India 1st Innings Scorecard – 462 All Out
India’s score in the first innings laid the groundwork for their entire success.
India Batting
- Devdutt Padikkal – 167 runs
Padikkal was a standout performer in the innings, achieving 167 runs off 230 deliveries, which included 15 boundaries and one six. This innings marked his first Test century and his highest score in this format.
His innings was vital as he batted for an extended time, withstanding the pressure exerted by Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers.
- KL Rahul – 82 runs
KL Rahul also made a significant contribution by scoring 82 runs. He initially had to retire due to cramps after reaching 77 but later returned and completed his innings.
Rahul’s performance perfectly complemented Padikkal’s aggressive style. While Padikkal focused on attacking the bowlers, Rahul provided a steady presence at the opposite end.
- Dhruv Jurel – 51 runs
Jurel contributed a crucial half-century by scoring 51 runs, helping India sustain pressure following the exits of key top-order batsmen.
- Rishabh Pant – 39 runs
Pant managed to score 39 runs in India’s first innings before being dismissed by debutant Keshara Nuwantha.
The remaining Indian batsmen added valuable runs alongside these key contributions, allowing India to reach a substantial total of 462 all out in 116.4 overs.
Sri Lanka Bowling – First Innings
Ultimately, Sri Lanka’s spinners were able to curtail India’s scoring rate.
Prabath Jayasuriya emerged as the leading bowler, claiming 4 wickets at the cost of 109 runs.
Keshara Nuwantha, making his debut, secured 3 wickets for 175 runs, with the other wicket-taking efforts attributed to the rest of the Sri Lankan bowling team.
Although Jayasuriya and Nuwantha collectively captured seven wickets, they could not stop India from achieving a total of 462 runs.
Sri Lanka 1st Innings Scorecard – 284 All Out
Following India’s significant score, Sri Lanka required a robust reaction. Ultimately, they managed to reach 284 all out in 79.4 overs, which gave India a first-innings advantage of 178 runs.
Sri Lanka Batting
- Sonal Dinusha – 100 runs
Dinusha delivered the top batting display for Sri Lanka in the first innings. He amassed 100 runs from 168 deliveries, marking a crucial century at a time when his team was in dire need of resilience.
This century helped avert a total collapse of Sri Lanka’s batting order, providing the home fans with a moment of joy.
- Niroshan Dickwella – 80 runs
Dickwella contributed 80 runs off 115 balls, creating a significant partnership alongside Dinusha.
The efforts of this duo were essential in helping Sri Lanka post 284, rather than being bowled out for a much lower figure.
Other batters from Sri Lanka found it difficult to make meaningful contributions, enabling India to preserve a considerable lead.
India Bowling – First Innings
Manav Suthar – 4 wickets
In his second Test, Suthar made a significant impression by capturing four wickets during Sri Lanka’s first innings, consistently challenging the batters with his left-arm orthodox spin.
Ravindra Jadeja – 3 wickets
Jadeja made a crucial contribution by securing three wickets in the match.
Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna also added to the wicket tally as India bowled out Sri Lanka for 284 runs.
India 2nd Innings Scorecard – 193 All Out
With a first-innings lead of 178 runs, India did not require another substantial batting performance. Their aim was to set a challenging target that would allow their bowlers ample time to dismiss Sri Lanka.
India concluded their innings with a score of 193 all out in 48.5 overs, establishing a target of 372 runs for Sri Lanka.
Rishabh Pant – 66 Runs
Pant was the top run-scorer for India in the second innings.
He scored 66 runs from 69 deliveries, providing the needed aggressive momentum for India. His innings was particularly crucial as the visitors had to find a balance between scoring quickly and the threat of rain interruptions.
Pant’s bold style of play enabled India to set a target that was unattainable for Sri Lanka.
Devdutt Padikkal – 44 Runs
Following his impressive score of 167 in the first innings, Padikkal contributed again with 44 runs.
His performance in the second innings ensured that he remained one of India’s most significant contributors during the Test match.
While the rest of India’s batting order did not achieve notable runs, the total proved adequate since Sri Lanka had to bat last on a challenging pitch.
Sri Lanka 2nd Innings Scorecard – 206 All Out
Sri Lanka entered their final innings with a target of 372 runs.
At the end of Day 4, the hosts were at 84/4, requiring another 288 runs to secure victory. India’s bowlers were in a commanding position, but Sri Lanka had a chance to prolong the match on the fifth morning.
Resistance from the Sri Lankan side persisted for a time on Day 5, yet India’s spin attack ultimately prevailed.
Sonal Dinusha – 84 Runs
Dinusha demonstrated remarkable determination once more.
After achieving a century in the first innings, he added 84 runs in the fourth innings. His consecutive significant scores made him Sri Lanka’s standout player in the Test match.
Dhananjaya de Silva – 59 Runs
Dhananjaya de Silva also played a crucial part with 59 runs off 151 balls.
His measured approach was precisely what Sri Lanka needed during their fourth innings pursuit. However, once India broke through the defense surrounding him, the chase swiftly slipped away from Sri Lanka.
Ultimately, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 206 runs in 77.4 overs.
Manav Suthar Takes 6/55
The standout bowling effort came from Manav Suthar.
The young left-arm spinner wrapped up Sri Lanka’s second innings with 6 wickets for 55 runs in 23.4 overs. This marked his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Combined with his four wickets taken in the first innings, Suthar finished the match with a total of 10 wickets.
This achievement highlights his performance as a key moment in the Galle Test.
Ravindra Jadeja significantly contributed to the final innings, securing figures of 2/16 as India wrapped up the game.
Complete Key Batting Scores
Below are the crucial batting statistics from the game:
India
- Devdutt Padikkal: 167 in the initial innings
- KL Rahul: 82
- Dhruv Jurel: 51
- Rishabh Pant: 39 in the initial innings
- Rishabh Pant: 66 in the latter innings
- Devdutt Padikkal: 44 in the latter innings
- India: 462 & 193
Sri Lanka
- Sonal Dinusha: 100 in the initial innings
- Niroshan Dickwella: 80
- Sonal Dinusha: 84 in the latter innings
- Dhananjaya de Silva: 59
- Sri Lanka: 284 & 206
These statistics emphasize the match’s reliance on a few standout individual contributions.
Complete Key Bowling Figures
The effectiveness of India’s bowlers played a critical role as the match reached its crucial moments.
- Manav Suthar achieved a total of four wickets during Sri Lanka’s first innings and six in the second, amounting to a total of 10 wickets.
- Ravindra Jadeja captured three wickets in the first innings and added two more in the second.
- The bowling for Sri Lanka was spearheaded by Prabath Jayasuriya, who took four wickets for 109 runs in India’s first innings.
- The debutant Keshara Nuwantha also picked up three wickets.
Major Records and Talking Points
The Test match featured several remarkable statistical achievements.
Padikkal’s Maiden Test Century
Devdutt Padikkal scored 167, marking his first Test century in just his third match. His innings featured 15 boundaries and one six.
Suthar’s 10-Wicket Match Haul
With a total of 10 wickets, Manav Suthar delivered the most significant bowling effort of the match. His performance of 6/55 in the second innings capped a brilliant individual display.
India’s 165-Run Victory
India’s final winning margin was 165 runs, as Sri Lanka was bowled out for 206 while attempting to chase down 372.
Sri Lanka’s Dinusha Stands Tall
Sonal Dinusha was the most dependable batsman for Sri Lanka throughout the match, scoring 100 and 84.
Final Scorecard at a Glance
The ultimate match outcome can be simply recapped as follows:
- India – 462 all out & 193 all out
- Sri Lanka – 284 all out & 206 all out
- India achieved victory by 165 runs.
India’s initial innings set a solid foundation, while the second innings granted their bowlers the necessary target. The impressive innings of Padikkal at 167, Pant’s 66, Dinusha’s 100 and 84, alongside Suthar’s 10 wickets, were the key figures of the match.
Conclusion
The Galle Test clearly belonged to India from the instance they scored 462. While Sri Lanka displayed some signs of resistance, especially from Dinusha and Dickwella, the overall composition of India’s team proved too robust.
Padikkal’s milestone century stood out as the batting highlight, and Suthar’s 10-wicket haul provided the crucial bowling edge. India also received important support from KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.
With Sri Lanka scoring 206 in their fourth innings, India secured a victory by 165 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the Test series.
For those looking at the scorecard of the Sri Lanka versus India 1st Test match in 2026, the significant figures stand out clearly: 462, 284, 193, and 206, with India securing victory by 165 runs. However, beneath these figures was a Test characterized by Padikkal’s impressive 167, Dinusha’s two pivotal innings, and Suthar’s decisive 10 wickets.
