India vice-captain KL Rahul revealed that the team's aggressive approach in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka was driven by the knowledge of an impending heavy shower, which arrived just five minutes after their 165-run victory.
Veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja lauded young spinner Manav Suthar's opening delivery in the first Test against Sri Lanka, describing it as a 'left-arm spinner's dream ball' after it dismissed Dinesh Chandimal with sharp turn and bounce.
Devdutt Padikkal's match aggregate of 211 runs is the second-highest by an Indian No. 3 in a Test against Sri Lanka. Dravid holds the record with 215 runs in the 2009 Ahmedabad Test, where he made 177 and 38.
India captain Shubman Gill has indicated that Prasidh Krishna is likely to share the new ball with Mohammed Siraj in the upcoming first Test against Sri Lanka.
Indian batter Devdutt Padikkal, after scoring a magnificent maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in Galle, discussed the "slowish" nature of the wicket. He noted that the pitch aided left-handed batters against left-arm spinners and started turning significantly after the third day, contributing to India's 165-run victory.
KL Rahul's patient half-century in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka highlights his evolving role as a consistent and strategic anchor for the Indian team. Despite a slower strike rate, his ability to stonewall spinners and build partnerships has been crucial, earning praise from coaches and teammates. This performance underscores his growing importance, especially after the departure of senior batters, as he aims to make a significant impact in the current Test series.
The Indian cricket team marked the nation's 80th Independence Day by hoisting the Tricolour in Galle, Sri Lanka, ahead of their opening Test match against the host nation.
Manav Suthar delivered a standout performance in just his second Test, taking 10 wickets as India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the opening match of the series.
Former India leg-spinner L Sivaramakrishnan believes that advising Kuldeep Yadav to bowl faster in Test cricket is 'the worst piece of advice' he could receive, advocating instead for focus on alignment and natural speeds to maximise spin.
As India prepares for their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15, the team management faces critical decisions regarding their playing XI to bolster their World Test Championship 2027 final aspirations.
The Indian players rest and rejuvenate in Galle before the first Test on Saturday.
Rishabh Pant's dismissal for 39 against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle has once again brought his shot selection under intense scrutiny, with fans and former cricketers criticising his inability to convert starts into bigger scores.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel has indicated that India might field three left-arm spinners - Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Manav Suthar - in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
India put themselves course for a big win in the series opener after reducing Sri Lanka to 84/4 at stumps on day four of the first Test in Galle on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced a 16-member squad for the first Test against India, featuring the return of wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella.
Shubman Gill showcased exceptional athleticism by taking a sensational one-handed catch against Sri Lanka on Day 3 of the first Test in Galle.
Sri Lankan spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis have established the Galle International Cricket Stadium as their formidable stronghold, collectively taking 145 wickets, posing a significant challenge for visiting teams, especially India.
India secured a comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test, improving their World Test Championship points percentage. However, despite the win, their path to the WTC final has become significantly more challenging, requiring them to win almost all their remaining matches due to a tightly packed table and other teams' results.
Team India batter KL Rahul hailed Karnataka teammate Devdutt Padikkal's maiden Test century and backed the young left-hander to become a more consistent run-scorer for India.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has emphasised the crucial role wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul will play in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, citing his experience and ability to guide younger players.
Standing at square leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal kept urging Niroshan Dickwella to play his shots, reminding him of the aggressive 80 he had scored in the first innings.
A maiden Test century is never just about three figures. It is a reflection of patience, perseverance, self-belief and the courage to wait for the right moment.
India's vice-captain KL Rahul expressed his delight at the team's comprehensive 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle, stating that the team 'ticked most of the boxes' they had discussed prior to the match and gained significant confidence for future spin-dominated assignments.
Manav Suthar, a left-arm spinner, delivered an exceptional four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the first Test, attributing his success to a pre-series training stint at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His performance, including dismissing Dinesh Chandimal with his first ball, was crucial in keeping the Lankans in check despite a strong partnership. Suthar also highlighted the learning experience from bowling alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's standing in red-ball cricket faces a crucial test as the team embarks on a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket team underwent an intense net session in Colombo.
Sri Lanka's head coach Gary Kirsten expressed satisfaction with his team's developing approach to Test cricket despite a loss to India. He highlighted the team's fight and resilience, particularly after a poor start in their first innings, and praised young batter Sonal Dinusha. Kirsten also provided an update on key player injuries ahead of the next Test.
Former Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas has called on cricket authorities to actively work towards preserving Test and 50-over formats, warning that they are 'dying' amidst the growing global preference for T20s and franchise leagues.
Devdutt Padikkal on Tuesday asserted that Test cricket remains his "ultimate goal", and subtle technical adjustments to his batting has helped him make an instant impact in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
India completed their 600th Test with a 165-run win over Sri Lanka. Here's how India evolved from early struggles into a modern Test cricket powerhouse.
Sri Lanka has announced two changes to their squad for the upcoming second and final Test against India, bringing in all-rounder Sahan Arachchige and batter Kamil Mishara. These changes come as Sri Lanka aims to level the series after losing the first Test.
India captain Shubman Gill on Friday spent considerable time fine-tuning his game against that variation at the team's training session ahead of the upcoming second Test against Sri Lanka, in Colombo.
Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has achieved a rare feat in Test cricket, becoming only the fourth player in history to score over 4,000 runs and take 350 wickets. He joins an exclusive club alongside legends like Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, and Daniel Vettori, reaching the milestone during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
The draw in the second Test saw India miss out on a chance to improve their position in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first Indian and fourth overall player to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.
Steve Smith became the 15th member of Test cricket's 10,000-run club as he and opener Usman Khawaja smashed hundreds to help Australia rack up 330/2 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan cricket officials are considering a balanced pitch for the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), moving away from a spin-friendly track. This decision aims to provide equal opportunities for both batters and bowlers, similar to the Galle pitch, and support their young batting lineup. The SSC pitch character has evolved over the years, with less home advantage since the retirement of legendary players.
Devdutt Padikkal's assured batting at number three and Manav Suthar's strong performance as a lead Test spinner are the biggest gains for India from their recent Test series in Sri Lanka, addressing key questions surrounding the team's future.
With Kuldeep Yadav looking ineffective, India could look towards including off-spinner Saransh Jain in the playing XI in the second Test in Colombo, especially looking at three left-handers in the Sri Lankan top seven.
Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane is set to begin his Test commentary career with the Sony Sports Network during India's upcoming two-match series in Sri Lanka.
