India's young gun and veteran combine to put visitors in driver's seat

On a day when India's left-arm spinners combined beautifully to share seven wickets, the tourists seized control of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Promising youngster Manav Suthar (4-76 in 21.4 overs) and the seasoned Ravindra Jadeja (3-57 in 21 overs) ripped through the home side, who were eventually bowled out for 284, leaving India with a sizeable 178-run lead.

Sri Lanka's 'D&D' fightback

India had reduced the hosts to 99 for five in the first session, courtesy of Suthar's superb double strike. But the bowlers then encountered an unexpected obstacle in two Ds, both left-handers. Playing just his fourth Test, 25-year-old Sonal Dinusha slammed his maiden Test hundred — 100 off 168 balls, with four fours and two sixes — while 33-year-old Niroshan Dickwella, making his Test comeback after three-and-a-half years amid a local furore over his recall, scored 80 off 115 balls with seven fours.

The pair scripted an incredible fightback with a gallant 146-run partnership off 216 balls for the sixth wicket, helping Sri Lanka avoid the follow-on and salvage some pride. "Unlike their top-order colleagues, Dickwella and Dinusha looked unflustered and used the sweep effectively to nullify India's spinners," noted the match report. They also handled Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna well.

Walking in with Sri Lanka in crisis at 59 for four, Dinusha, who has scored 11 first-class hundreds and averages 45.09, showed he could be a valuable No. 6 batter in the future. The southpaw displayed admirable composure and grit under pressure before being trapped lbw by Jadeja after playing all around a sharply turning delivery. Making his Test comeback after last playing against New Zealand in Christchurch in March 2023, Dickwella reached his 23rd fifty — his first since 2022 — off 67 balls.

Dream debut for Suthar

Suthar struck with his very first ball of the series, producing a beauty that turned and bounced sharply to take the edge of Dinesh Chandimal's bat before wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant completed the catch. He struck again when Sri Lankan opener Udara Igalagamage (27 off 44, six fours), who had pulled and cut a couple of boundaries, was caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at backward point while attempting another cut. Udara had slammed 188 in his previous Test against the West Indies at North Sound in July.

Introduced in the eighth over, Suthar led the initial charge as India's spinners extracted vicious grip, turn and bounce from the surface. Sri Lanka's top order also badly missed classy opener Pathum Nissanka, who is sidelined with injury. Dickwella was also given a life on 23 when KL Rahul grassed a sharp chance after the left-hander edged a cut off Suthar in the 36th over.

Jadeja's milestone

Jadeja then joined the party, claiming his 350th Test wicket when he dismissed debutant Keshara Nuwantha. He had earlier accounted for Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva (21 off 41, four fours). Jadeja is now fifth on India's all-time Test wicket-takers' list, behind Anil Kumble (619), Ravichandran Ashwin (537), Kapil Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (417).

Gill's stunning catch

India produced a moment of brilliance in the field as well. Diving at short cover and plucking the ball inches off the ground, captain Shubman Gill pulled off a stunning catch at extra cover — potentially the catch of the series — to dismiss Mendis for 14 (25 balls, one four). Mendis had earlier pulled Prasidh Krishna for six but top-edged an aerial drive after charging down the track against Kuldeep Yadav.

What's next

India eventually bounced back in the final session, with Suthar and Jadeja claiming the last five wickets for 69 runs. Staring at a follow-on, Sri Lanka were rescued by the resilient 'D&D' pair, who carried their side to 215 for five at tea, adding 116 runs in the middle session without losing a wicket. Factoring in the wet weather, the visitors will need to score at a fair clip on Day Four and set Sri Lanka a target of around 400, when India's spinners could be even more dangerous.