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By Ishaan Kapoor — 19 August 2026 — 3 min read

India secured a 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in Galle, with vice-captain KL Rahul highlighting the significant contributions of Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar. The win is seen as crucial for India’s ICC World Test Championship campaign, especially after a home series defeat against South Africa last year.

Rahul specifically lauded Padikkal’s innings, describing his 167-run knock as the “defining part” of the Test match. Padikkal’s maiden Test hundred helped India accumulate 462 runs in their first innings. Rahul, who has played alongside Padikkal and witnessed his development from Bangalore to Karnataka, expressed his happiness at seeing the young batsman achieve this milestone. He hopes Padikkal will carry this confidence into future matches and his career.

Padikkal was recognised as the Player of the Match in what was his third Test appearance for India. The conditions in Galle were challenging, with high temperatures adding to the physical demands on the players.

Key Performances in Galle

Another key contributor to India’s victory was Manav Suthar, who was playing in only his second Test match. Suthar claimed a total of 10 wickets during the game, including a six-wicket haul in the second innings. His performance played a vital role in dismissing the hosts for 206 runs on Day 5.

Rahul praised Suthar’s consistency and his ability to use subtle variations in his bowling. He noted that Suthar’s pace and consistent line challenge batsmen, leading to various modes of dismissal, such as leg before wicket (LBW) or caught behind if there is turn. Suthar already has 17 Test wickets for India, having debuted in June during a one-off Test against Afghanistan.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir was also observed to be pleased with the team’s performance, exchanging handshakes with players and support staff, including Sri Lanka’s coach Gary Kirsten. This victory is particularly significant for Gambhir, who has faced scrutiny following recent losses against New Zealand and South Africa at home, and an away defeat against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).

The win in Galle is seen as a positive step for India’s Test squad, addressing some of the challenges Gambhir has faced, such as managing transitions, workload, and injury concerns. The team is looking to build a multi-day squad for the coming years.

Looking Ahead to Colombo

The victory has instilled confidence within the Indian team as they prepare for the series decider in Colombo. Rahul stated that the win provides a sense of happiness and confidence for the upcoming match and a significant home series against Australia next year. The team has been focusing on improving their batting against spin and playing in spinning conditions, and this result validates their efforts.

The second Test is scheduled to take place from August 23-27 in Colombo. Despite the absence of key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and the regular number three batsman Sai Sudharsan due to injury, the team’s depth allowed others to step up. Padikkal seized his opportunity, and Dhruv Jurel also made a meaningful contribution with the bat. Prasidh Krishna has emerged as a significant positive for the Shubman Gill-led side, demonstrating why he continues to be a preferred choice.

Discussions between Gambhir and Kirsten, who both played key roles in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph, focused on the challenges of coaching and their shared values regarding Test cricket. Kirsten emphasised the importance of building team shape and converting it into performance, a sentiment that resonates with India’s recent journey in the format. The team aims to continue its progress towards a World Test Championship final berth.

The win in Galle has helped put India’s WTC campaign back on track, providing a much-needed boost after a period of mixed results. The team will now look to carry this momentum into the second Test in Colombo, starting on August 23.

Source: icc-cricket.com