Padikkal, Rahul Add 65 As India Strengthen Grip On Galle Test

Devdutt Padikkal and KL Rahul’s 65-run partnership helped India strengthen their position as the visitors reached 116/4 at lunch on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium.

India, who bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 on Monday to secure a 178-run first-innings lead, extended their advantage to 294 runs by the lunch interval.

Sri Lanka made an early breakthrough when Asitha Fernando dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for a caught-behind after the opener attempted to cut a good-length delivery.

Rahul and first-innings centurion Padikkal then settled in and built a strong partnership.

Padikkal began aggressively, hitting Fernando and Keshara Nuwantha for boundaries, while Rahul gradually opened up.

Rahul struck two sixes against Prabath Jayasuriya and survived an LBW scare after Padikkal advised him to review the decision. The review showed the ball was missing the stumps on height.

Rahul’s resistance ended soon after. He was dismissed for 35 while attempting to clear mid-on, mistiming Jayasuriya to deepish mid-off.

Shubman Gill joined Padikkal but lasted only briefly, falling for eight after Jayasuriya trapped him lbw. Gill reviewed the decision, but the call was upheld, costing India a review.

Rishabh Pant then injected aggression into the innings, hitting Nuwantha for a four and Lahiru Kumara for a six.

Sri Lanka suffered an injury concern when Dinesh Chandimal hurt his neck and shoulder while attempting to stop a Rahul sweep in the fourth over. He was taken to hospital for scans, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed.

Padikkal was eventually dismissed for 44 at the stroke of lunch when Nuwantha trapped him after he missed a flick.

Pant remained unbeaten on 21, with Dhruv Jurel on five.

Brief Scores

India 462 & 116/4 (Padikkal 44, Pant 21*; Jayasuriya 2/42); Sri Lanka 284. India lead by 294 runs.

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