COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | August 25, 2026 —
IND vs SL 2nd Test: India moved firmly toward another commanding result after reducing Sri Lanka to 265/8 at stumps on Day 3 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, although a defiant unbeaten 85 from Sonal Dinusha and late rain prevented the visitors from wrapping up the first innings.
Sri Lanka remain 238 runs behind India’s massive 503/9 declared and need another 39 runs to avoid the follow-on when play resumes on Wednesday.
India need only two wickets to end Sri Lanka’s first innings, but whether Shubman Gill can enforce the follow-on will depend on stopping the hosts before they reach 304.
Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar Take Three Each
India’s bowling attack kept control of the match despite periods of determined resistance from Sri Lanka.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna finished the day with 3/47, while left-arm spinner Manav Suthar took 3/83.
Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja picked up one wicket each.
Sri Lanka had resumed Day 3 in deep trouble at 8/2, but Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis temporarily stabilized the innings.
Prasidh removed Kamil Mishara for 19 before breaking an important 87-run partnership between Sooriyabandara and Mendis.
Mendis departed for 32, giving India another opening.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara Makes Fighting 80
Pasindu Sooriyabandara provided Sri Lanka with its first major resistance of the day.
The right-hander struck 80 from 133 deliveries, including nine boundaries, and frustrated India’s attack after the hosts’ poor start.
However, Jadeja eventually ended his innings before Sri Lanka slipped to 173/7.
At that stage, India appeared capable of dismissing the home side well short of the follow-on mark.
Then Sonal Dinusha changed the complexion of the final two sessions.
Sonal Dinusha Keeps Sri Lanka Alive With Unbeaten 85
Dinusha once again emerged as Sri Lanka’s most important batter.
He remained unbeaten on 85 from 137 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes while handling both India’s pace attack and spinners with considerable composure.
His innings became particularly valuable after Sri Lanka’s middle order collapsed.
Dinusha added 57 runs with Keshara Nuwantha, who consumed 74 deliveries for his 18, helping the home side push beyond 200.
After Nuwantha fell to Suthar, Dinusha found another stubborn partner in Lahiru Kumara.
Kumara was unbeaten on 8 from 50 balls when rain and fading light brought proceedings to an early close.
India Still Hold a 238-Run Lead
Despite Sri Lanka’s lower-order fightback, the match remains heavily tilted toward India.
India had declared its first innings at 503/9, powered by major contributions including Devdutt Padikkal’s 117 and Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 115.
Sri Lanka now face two immediate objectives on Day 4.
First, Dinusha and the remaining tail must find 39 more runs to take the score to 304 and remove India’s option of enforcing the follow-on.
Second, even if Sri Lanka cross that mark, they will still need to limit India’s second-innings advantage with only two wickets remaining in their first innings.
Why 39 Runs Matter on Day 4
The follow-on equation could decide how quickly the Test moves toward a result.
In a five-day Test, the team batting first can enforce the follow-on if it holds a first-innings lead of at least 200 runs.
India scored 503.
Sri Lanka therefore need to reach at least 304 to reduce the deficit below 200.
At 265/8, that leaves them 39 runs short.
If India dismiss Sri Lanka before that point, captain Shubman Gill will have the option of asking the hosts to bat again immediately.
India Eye Series Sweep
India entered the Colombo Test already 1-0 ahead after defeating Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the opening Test at Galle.
The two-Test series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle, adding further significance to a possible 2-0 sweep.
INVC NEWS had earlier covered India’s squad for the Sri Lanka Test series, including the selection of Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain.
Suthar has since emerged as one of the central figures of the tour, strengthening India’s spin options alongside Jadeja.
The official BCCI Sri Lanka tour squad announcement confirms the two-Test schedule, while the ICC provides World Test Championship updates.
Day 4 Could Decide the Test
India will begin Wednesday with a simple target: take the final two Sri Lankan wickets as quickly as possible.
Sri Lanka’s equation is equally clear.
Dinusha must continue his resistance while Kumara and the final batter try to find those crucial 39 runs.
Rain remains another factor in Colombo, but after three days India still hold the strongest position.
Day 4 could now determine whether Sri Lanka merely avoids the follow-on — or whether India moves rapidly toward a 2-0 series sweep.
