Galle, Sri Lanka — On a tense Day 5 at the Galle International Stadium, India wrapped up a dominant 165-run victory over Sri Lanka to take a 1–0 lead in the Test series. Young spinner Manav Sutar delivered a standout performance, capturing a career-best 6 for 55 to dismantle the host side’s second innings before torrential rain swept over the venue.
Manav Sutar’s 6-Wicket Haul Powers India to 165-Run Victory Over Sri Lanka in 1st Test
1. Early Resistance from Sri Lanka
Entering the final day needing 288 runs with six wickets in hand, Sri Lanka showed fight during the morning session. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva scored a composed half-century to lead the recovery effort alongside young prospect Sohan de Livera, who reached his own fifty with aggressive strokeplay against India’s spin attack.
The pair raised a promising 55-run partnership, pushing Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark and threatening to take the match deep into the fifth day.
| Top Performers | Performance Summary | Match Impact |
| Manav Sutar (IND) | 6/55 (2nd Innings) | Career-best figures; took 5-wicket haul in back-to-back Tests |
| Dhananjaya de Silva (SL) | 50 Runs | Anchored Sri Lanka’s morning counter-attack |
| Sohan de Livera (SL) | 50+ Runs (3 Sixes) | Provided aggressive middle-order resistance |
| Ravindra Jadeja (IND) | Crucial Wicket-Taking Spell | Broke key partnerships to initiate the collapse |
2. Jadeja and Sutar Spark Middle-Order Collapse
India’s skipper Shubman Gill rotated his spin attack effectively to break Sri Lanka’s momentum. Ravindra Jadeja secured the long-awaited breakthrough, ending the stubborn partnership and sparking a rapid middle-order collapse.
Left-arm spinner Manav Sutar then took full control of proceedings, turning the ball sharply off the Day 5 pitch. Sutar trapped Lahiru Kumara leg-before to complete a second consecutive five-wicket haul in just his second Test match, leaving Sri Lanka teetering at nine wickets down.
Sri Lanka's Wicket Sequence: 151/5 ➔ 168/6 ➔ 199/9 ➔ 201 All Out
3. Victory Sealed Just Before Heavy Rain Hits
Sutar capped off his match-winning performance by bowling Lahiru Kumara for the final wicket, ending Sri Lanka’s second innings at 201 runs and sealing India’s victory by 165 runs.
Sutar finished with magnificent figures of 6 for 55, solidifying his position as one of India’s most promising young spin talents. Just minutes after the final wicket fell, a heavy downpour drenched the Galle ground, forcing official post-match proceedings to move indoors—a fittingly dramatic finish to India’s opening Test win.
