India Beat Sri Lanka by 165 Runs in Galle, Take 1-0 Series Lead

India wrapped up the first Test against Sri Lanka in style, winning by 165 runs in Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Devdutt Padikkal was named Player of the Match for his twin knocks of 167 and 44, a performance that shaped the game from the very first day.

Sent in to bat after winning the toss, India piled up 462 in their first innings. Padikkal's 167 was the standout, but he had support all around him. KL Rahul made 82, Dhruv Jurel chipped in with 51, and Rishabh Pant added a brisk 39. Sri Lanka hit back through Prabath Jayasuriya, who picked up 4 wickets, but the total gave India a platform they never really gave up.

Sri Lanka's reply fell well short. Sonal Dinusha was the one shining light with a fighting hundred, but the rest of the batting couldn't build around him, and the hosts were bowled out for 284, handing India a lead of 178 runs.

India didn't let up in their second innings either. Padikkal's second-innings 44 and a quickfire 66 from Rishabh Pant helped set Sri Lanka a target of 372, well beyond what the hosts had shown they could chase on a wearing surface. Asitha Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 4 wickets in that innings.

Sri Lanka fought hard in the fourth innings. Dinusha made his second half-century plus fifty of the match, and Niroshan Dickwella played a lively 80 to keep India waiting. But Manav Suthar had other ideas, ripping through the tail with a maiden Test 10-wicket haul across the match to seal victory for India well inside the fifth day.

The result puts India firmly in charge of the series with one Test to go. Attention now shifts to the second and final Test, starting August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, where Sri Lanka will look to level the series and India will aim to close it out.