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How India turn the screw against Sri Lanka

By Sohail Khan 27 August 2026, 1:25 am

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Test cricket: How India turn the screw against Sri Lanka
Synopsis

Sooriyabandara was compact against the quicks and deadly against the spinners. He swept with great effect, while Indian spinners were guilty of not bowling the right length often enough to create chances. The sweep is an effective shot when played well, but on a fourthday pitch it is not without risk. To India’s irritation, the few times when the top edge was found, the ball fell in no man’s land. But this wasn’t just down to luck. Sooriyabandara had worked the ball around so well that Shubman Gill was tentative with his field placings.

Colombo [Sri Lanka], Aug 26: Sri Lanka's Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamind... — Sri Lanka's Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis

Test cricket is the longest form of the game, but its most dramatic shifts can happen in such quick time that holding your nerve is non-negotiable.

India ended the fourth day perfectly placed to win the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club and seal the series 2-0. Sri Lanka, having failed to avoid the follow-on, were 229 for 6, a lead of only 16.

But at different times of the day, it didn’t feel like this Test was headed so comprehensively in India’s direction. In Sri Lanka’s second innings, for 110 minutes, Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis controlled the tempo. While the pair was together, it was hard to see how India would pick up the 10 wickets they needed to move the game forward.

Sooriyabandara was compact against the quicks and deadly against the spinners. He swept with great effect, while Indian spinners were guilty of not bowling the right length often enough to create chances. The sweep is an effective shot when played well, but on a fourthday pitch it is not without risk. To India’s irritation, the few times when the top edge was found, the ball fell in no man’s land. But this wasn’t just down to luck. Sooriyabandara had worked the ball around so well that Shubman Gill was tentative with his field placings.

Also Read: India vs Sri Lanka 1st test: Rishabh Pant powers India close to victory in Galle

Mendis’s approach was simple: take the attack to the bowlers. While he had no trouble in picking up the ones and twos, Mendis was particularly keen to attack Manav Suthar, who had clearly been identified as the biggest threat. One slog sweep over midwicket went for six and a full ball was smacked back over the bowler’s head into the sightscreen. Mendis was almost compulsive in taking on the short ball and India’s fielders and bowlers seemed to goad him on. Prasidh Krishna dropped one short only to be deposited onto the roof of the stands. But, eventually, Mendis fell to the short one — for the third time in this series — superbly caught by Gill.

Mendis had added 115 for the third wicket with Sooriyabandara off only 172 balls. With only two down during the stand, India were left scratching their heads, wondering whether their decision to enforce the follow-on, taken primarily because of the time lost to rain, had the potential to backfire.

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)

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Read More News on
Test cricketPasindu SooriyabandaraKamindu MendisShubman GillManav SutharLahiru Udara

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