India has secured a 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match ICC World Test Championship series. This win has boosted India’s position in the WTC Standings, moving them up one place to fifth with a PCT of 53.33. The result is particularly significant for India, as it keeps them in contention for a spot in next year’s World Test Championship Final at The Oval, following a previous 2-0 home series defeat to South Africa in the ongoing cycle. Sri Lanka, currently sixth in the standings, holds a PCT of 33.33.
The match saw a standout performance from Manav Suthar, who achieved his maiden ten-wicket haul in Tests. Suthar, making his Test debut for India against Afghanistan in June, finished with bowling figures of 6/55 in the second innings, complementing his 4/76 in the first innings, for a total of 10 wickets in the match. His efforts were crucial in dismantling the home batting lineup, clinching the final four wickets, including that of Sonal Dinusha.
Suthar’s Record-Breaking Performance
Manav Suthar, at 24 years and 16 days old, made history by becoming the youngest Indian to claim a 10-wicket haul in an away Test. He joins an exclusive group of Indian spinners to achieve this feat, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Anil Kumble, and Harbhajan Singh. Notably, Suthar is the only Indian in this group to accomplish this before turning 28.
Suthar’s performance also places him among a select group of Indian bowlers with multiple five-wicket hauls in their first two Tests, joining Narendra Hirwani, Axar Patel, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, and Mohammad Nissar. He is also the fourth Indian to claim a maiden 10-wicket match haul within his first two Tests. His 10 wickets were particularly impactful given his role as the junior-most of India’s three left-arm spinners in Galle.
Captain Shubman Gill praised Suthar’s efforts, describing him as a “very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a very long time.” The celebrations within the Indian dressing room highlighted Suthar’s contribution, with players exchanging hugs and giving attention to the match ball. Suthar was later congratulated by teammates including Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohammed Siraj.
This victory also marked India’s 600th Test match, adding another layer of significance to the achievement. Suthar’s 10-wicket haul against Sri Lanka makes him only the fourth Indian to do so, following Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Three of the eight 10-wicket hauls by Indians against Sri Lanka have now occurred in Galle.
Key Contributions and Series Outlook
Beyond Suthar’s bowling, Devdutt Padikkal was named Player of the Match for his impressive batting, scoring 211 runs in the Test. Padikkal contributed 167 runs in the first innings and a valiant 84 runs off 128 deliveries in the second innings. KL Rahul also played a significant role, scoring 82 runs as India amassed a substantial total of 462 in their first innings, setting the foundation for their victory.
On Day 5, Sri Lanka, chasing a total of 372, had lost four wickets by Stumps on Day 4. Dhananjaya de Silva (59) and Sonal Dinusha (84) formed a crucial partnership in the middle order, delaying India’s progress. Ravindra Jadeja broke this stand by dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva in the first session. Suthar then ran through the late order, taking three batters in six balls to reduce Sri Lanka to 199/9.
Despite the loss, Sri Lanka also saw promising performances from 25-year-olds Keshara Nuwantha and Sonal Dinusha. Nuwantha bowled with spirit after a challenging opening day, while Dinusha was Sri Lanka’s top batter across both innings. Sri Lanka’s wait for a Test victory over India now extends to 11 matches, including nine defeats.
The series will now move to Colombo, where the two teams are scheduled to play the second and final Test from August 23-27. This upcoming match will serve as the series decider.
Source: icc-cricket.com
