India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2026: India Win by 165 Runs in Galle, Manav Suthar Takes 10 Wickets
India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle to take a 1–0 series lead and collect 12 WTC points. Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 and Manav Suthar’s sensational 10-wicket match haul powered India to a memorable victory in their 600th Test.
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India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle International Cricket Stadium to take a 1–0 lead in the series and collect 12 valuable World Test Championship points.
The five-day contest produced a compelling mix of dominant batting, dramatic collapses, fighting partnerships, rain interruptions and a match-winning spin performance from 24-year-old left-arm spinner Manav Suthar.
India’s victory was built on a magnificent first-innings total of 462, a crucial 178-run first-innings lead and Suthar’s sensational 10-wicket match haul. At the other end of the batting order, Devdutt Padikkal announced himself with a magnificent maiden Test century, scoring 167 in India’s first innings.
The result also came in a landmark match for Indian cricket, as the Galle Test marked India’s 600th Test match.
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test 2026: Match Details, Preview, Playing XI
India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2026: Match Result
India won by 165 runs
| Innings | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| India 1st Innings | 462 all out | Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82 |
| Sri Lanka 1st Innings | 284 all out | Sonal Dinusha 100, Niroshan Dickwella 80 |
| India 2nd Innings | 193 all out | Rishabh Pant 66, Devdutt Padikkal 44 |
| Sri Lanka 2nd Innings | 206 all out | Sonal Dinusha 84 |
| Result | India won by 165 runs | India lead series 1–0 |
Player of the Match: Manav Suthar
India’s WTC Points: 12
Men’s Test Team Rankings – Official Test Cricket Standings
Day 1: Devdutt Padikkal Announces Himself
India won the toss at Galle and elected to bat first.
The visitors made a confident start, but the innings suffered an early setback when Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 32 following a mix-up.
Shubman Gill, who came in next, scored 16 before being dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya.
That brought Devdutt Padikkal into the spotlight.
Returning to the playing XI, Padikkal responded with a superb display of controlled strokeplay. He formed a crucial partnership with KL Rahul, who produced an excellent 77 before being forced to retire hurt with forearm cramps.
Padikkal reached his century and finished the rain-shortened opening day unbeaten on 131.
At stumps, India were 288/2 after 73 overs, with Padikkal and Rishabh Pant at the crease.
India had already established the foundation for a huge first-innings score.
Day 2: Padikkal Reaches 167 as Sri Lanka Fight Back
Rain dominated the first half of Day 2, with only 43 overs of play possible.
When play finally resumed, Padikkal continued his outstanding innings.
The left-hander crossed 150 before eventually being dismissed for a magnificent 167 off 230 balls.
His innings became the defining batting performance of the Test.
KL Rahul returned to the crease after his Day 1 retirement hurt and continued his innings, eventually reaching 82.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, however, finally found their rhythm.
Prabath Jayasuriya led the fightback with his left-arm spin, while debutant Keshara Nuwantha provided crucial breakthroughs.
India lost wickets at regular intervals and slipped into a mini-collapse.
Then came Dhruv Jurel.
Jurel counterattacked brilliantly, scoring 51 off 68 balls and helping India push beyond the 450-run mark.
At the close of play, India were 460/9, with Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna still at the crease.
Day 3: India’s Spinners Take Control
India needed only four deliveries on the third morning to complete their first innings.
The visitors were bowled out for 462, giving Sri Lanka the challenge of facing India’s bowling attack on a turning Galle surface.
Sri Lanka’s reply began disastrously.
Mohammed Siraj struck with his second delivery, and the hosts quickly collapsed to 90/5.
India appeared to be heading towards a huge first-innings advantage.
But Sri Lanka refused to surrender.
Dinusha and Dickwella Rescue Sri Lanka
With the hosts in deep trouble, Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella produced one of the most important partnerships of the match.
The pair added 146 runs for the sixth wicket.
Dinusha displayed enormous composure and completed his maiden Test century, scoring 100 from 168 balls.
Dickwella contributed an equally valuable 80.
The partnership dragged Sri Lanka away from complete disaster and ensured that the hosts avoided the follow-on target.
Eventually, India’s spinners returned to finish the job.
Manav Suthar claimed 4/76, while Ravindra Jadeja took 3/57.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 284, giving India a massive 178-run first-innings lead.
Rain and strong winds then prevented India from beginning their second innings.
Day 4: Rishabh Pant’s Counterattack Sets Up the Finish
India resumed their second innings with a huge lead and a clear objective: score quickly and give Sri Lanka as little time as possible to chase.
The visitors attacked from the beginning.
Rishabh Pant produced one of the most entertaining innings of the match, smashing 66 off just 69 balls.
His aggressive strokeplay rapidly increased India’s lead.
Padikkal continued his remarkable match with another valuable contribution, scoring 44.
However, Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando produced an excellent spell.
Fernando finished with 4/41, triggering an Indian collapse and restricting the visitors to 193 all out.
But India had already achieved their objective.
Sri Lanka were set an enormous 372-run target.
Sri Lanka Collapse Under Pressure
The pressure of the target immediately showed.
India’s bowlers attacked the Sri Lankan top order and reduced the hosts to 84/4 before bad light brought the day to an early conclusion.
Manav Suthar had already taken two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna also struck.
Sri Lanka needed another 288 runs.
India needed just six wickets.
The match was firmly tilted towards India.
Day 5: Manav Suthar Completes a Dream Test
The final day began with Sri Lanka still possessing a faint hope of producing an extraordinary chase.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha provided stubborn resistance.
Dinusha, who had already scored a century in the first innings, continued to fight and eventually made 84 in the second innings.
For a period, Sri Lanka looked capable of extending the contest.
Then came the decisive breakthrough.
Jadeja Breaks the Resistance
Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva, breaking the crucial partnership and opening the door for India’s spinners.
From there, the match changed dramatically.
Manav Suthar’s Extraordinary Spell
Manav Suthar took over.
The 24-year-old left-arm spinner ripped through Sri Lanka’s lower order and produced a breathtaking burst of bowling.
He claimed four wickets in just 10 deliveries, completely destroying Sri Lanka’s resistance.
The final wicket of Keshara Nuwantha completed Suthar’s remarkable performance.
The young spinner had taken:
4/76 in the first innings
and
6 wickets in the second innings.
That gave him a sensational 10-wicket match haul.
India had their victory.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206, giving India a 165-run win.
Manav Suthar: The Hero of Galle
The defining story of the Test was undoubtedly Manav Suthar.
His 10-wicket match haul transformed the match from a potentially competitive contest into a decisive Indian victory.
The second-innings spell was particularly devastating. With Sri Lanka attempting to survive and chase an improbable target, Suthar dismantled the lower order in a matter of deliveries.
For a 24-year-old spinner playing a pivotal role in a Test victory away from home, the performance represents a major breakthrough.
Suthar finished the match with 10 wickets, underlining India’s strength in spin-friendly conditions.
Devdutt Padikkal’s Breakthrough Test
While Suthar was the bowling hero, Devdutt Padikkal was the star of India’s batting effort.
His 167 in the first innings provided India with the platform for a huge total.
Padikkal showed patience, shot selection and control throughout his marathon innings.
He followed it with another useful 44 in the second innings, finishing the match with 211 runs across both innings.
His maiden Test century could hardly have come at a more important time.
Rishabh Pant Adds the X-Factor
Rishabh Pant’s aggressive 66 off 69 balls in India’s second innings proved crucial.
India did not need to bat for a long time. They needed quick runs.
Pant delivered exactly that.
His attacking innings helped India establish the 372-run target quickly and gave the bowlers enough time to attack Sri Lanka.
Sonal Dinusha: Sri Lanka’s Lone Warrior
Despite Sri Lanka’s defeat, Sonal Dinusha emerged as one of the biggest positives for the hosts.
He scored:
100 in the first innings
84 in the second innings
His century came during Sri Lanka’s collapse from 90/5 and was part of a vital 146-run partnership with Niroshan Dickwella.
His second-innings 84 again gave Sri Lanka hope on the final day.
Dinusha finished the Test with 184 runs, demonstrating remarkable temperament under pressure.
India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2026: Key Performers
India
Devdutt Padikkal
167 in the first innings
44 in the second innings
211 runs in the match
Manav Suthar
4 wickets in the first innings
6 wickets in the second innings
10 wickets in the match
Rishabh Pant
66 in the second innings
KL Rahul
82 in the first innings
Ravindra Jadeja
3 wickets in the first innings
Crucial wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva in the second innings
Sri Lanka
Sonal Dinusha
100 in the first innings
84 in the second innings
184 runs in the match
Niroshan Dickwella
80 in the first innings
Asitha Fernando
4/41 in India’s second innings
India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2026: The Match in Numbers
| Statistic | India | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Innings | 462 | 284 |
| 2nd Innings | 193 | 206 |
| Match Result | Won by 165 runs | Lost |
| First-Innings Lead | 178 runs | — |
| Target | — | 372 |
| Best Batter | Devdutt Padikkal – 167 | Sonal Dinusha – 100 |
| Best Match Bowler | Manav Suthar – 10 wickets | — |
Why India Won the Galle Test
India’s victory was built on three major factors.
1. A Massive First-Innings Total
Padikkal’s 167, Rahul’s 82 and Jurel’s 51 helped India reach 462.
That gave India a huge advantage before Sri Lanka even began their first innings.
2. India’s Spin Attack
The Galle surface increasingly favoured spin as the match progressed.
India exploited those conditions brilliantly.
Jadeja provided experience, while Suthar delivered the match-winning performance.
3. Aggressive Second-Innings Batting
India did not waste time building their second-innings lead.
Pant’s 66 helped India reach 193 quickly and set Sri Lanka a target of 372.
That left enough time for India’s bowlers to take 20 wickets.
India’s 165-Run Victory: Final Verdict
India’s victory in Galle was a complete team performance.
Devdutt Padikkal provided the batting foundation, Rishabh Pant supplied the second-innings acceleration, Ravindra Jadeja delivered crucial breakthroughs and Manav Suthar produced the decisive bowling performance.
Sri Lanka showed tremendous fighting spirit through Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella, but India’s superior bowling attack eventually proved too strong.
The final margin — 165 runs — reflects India’s control over the decisive stages of the match.
The result gives India a 1–0 lead in the series and 12 valuable WTC points.
More importantly, the Galle Test could prove to be a landmark moment for young spinner Manav Suthar and batsman Devdutt Padikkal.
India 462 & 193 beat Sri Lanka 284 & 206 by 165 runs.
India lead the series 1–0.
Manav Suthar: 10 wickets.
Devdutt Padikkal: 167.
India: 12 WTC points.
A memorable Test victory in Galle.
About the Author
About the AuthorFanish Jha is the founder of indianswan.com, pincodeofindia.com, jobs.pincodeofindia.com, and GaonExpress.com. He is known for detailed Cricket storytelling, tactical cricket analysis, viral sports content, and SEO-driven digital publishing focused on Indian audiences.
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