Colombo, August 24, 2026: Centuries from Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal powered India to a commanding 503-9 declared on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground on Monday.
Resuming their innings at 300-5, India added 203 runs before declaring after 138 overs, with Jurel unbeaten on 115 and Ravindra Jadeja contributing a valuable 43.
Jurel faced 177 deliveries and struck nine fours and two sixes in a composed century, while Jadeja hit four boundaries in his 83-ball innings before being dismissed.
Rishabh Pant, who had retired hurt on the opening day, resumed his innings but was dismissed for 63 from 89 balls, including six fours and two sixes.
Manav Suthar added 18 from 51 deliveries with two fours, while Saransh Jain scored six off eight balls and Mohammed Siraj contributed three before India declared.
Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler, finishing with 4-106 from 29 overs. Keshara Nuwantha and Prabath Jayasuriya claimed two wickets each, while Lahiru Kumara took one.
Sri Lanka made a difficult start to their reply, losing two wickets for just eight runs in three overs and ending the day 495 runs behind India.
Prasidh Krishna struck early by dismissing opener Lahiru Udara for one off six deliveries. Sri Lanka then sent nightwatchman Jayasuriya to the crease, but he was dismissed by Suthar for two from seven balls.
Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara were at the crease when play ended and will resume Sri Lanka’s innings on the third day.
Earlier, Padikkal produced a career-defining century as India strengthened their position after choosing to bat first.
Padikkal scored 117 after making a career-best 167 in Galle in the previous Test, and made Sri Lanka pay for two early dropped catches.
India made a steady start despite losing two wickets during an evenly contested opening session.
KL Rahul initially looked comfortable and struck Jayasuriya for a six, but was dismissed for 18 after misjudging a slash against Kumara, giving Niroshan Dickwella a straightforward catch.
Padikkal survived two opportunities. Sonal Dinusha dropped him at backward point off Kumara before Dhananjaya de Silva spilled another chance at slip off Nuwantha Fernando.
Yashasvi Jaiswal attacked from the outset and helped India reach 50 in the 16th over. He eventually scored 45, hitting nine fours, but was bowled after edging a delivery from Fernando onto his stumps immediately after hitting three boundaries in the over.
The dismissal sparked a heated exchange between Jaiswal and Fernando before Sri Lanka captain intervened to calm the players.
Shubman Gill joined Padikkal and the pair guided India to 88-2 at lunch.
Sri Lanka struggled to extract movement from an largely unresponsive surface after the interval. Their seamers resorted to short-pitched deliveries, while the spinners bowled from around the wicket and targeted the area outside leg stump, but India remained largely comfortable.
Padikkal brought up his half-century with a well-timed drive as his partnership with Gill passed 100.
Gill completed his fifty in the 50th over but fell soon afterwards, edging a delivery outside off from Fernando through to Dickwella. His dismissal ended a 120-run third-wicket partnership and brought Pant to the crease.
Pant survived a confident lbw appeal from Fernando with his only delivery before tea, with ball-tracking showing the delivery would have missed leg stump. India went to tea at 187-3, with Padikkal unbeaten on 63.
India continued to dominate after the interval, although Pant was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the wrist by a short delivery from Kumara. He made three from 14 balls before leaving the field after receiving treatment.
Jadeja joined Padikkal and continued the scoring momentum. Padikkal moved into the 90s before completing his century with a single off Jayasuriya, further strengthening his reputation following his match-winning performance in the previous Test.
