Test at Galle: Rahul‑Padikkal duo gives India solid start, Sri Lanka bowler’s nightmare

The inaugural Test of the series between India and Sri Lanka is underway at Galle International Cricket Stadium, with India opting to bat first.

India’s opening spell was largely untroubled, concluding the first session at 197 for one wicket.

After Yashasvi Jaiswal’s early dismissal, KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal forged a resilient partnership. Rahul, on 162 balls, posted 77 runs, while Padikkal remained not out on 84.

Padikkal’s knock contained seven fours and a six; Rahul added nine fours and a six, rendering the Sri Lankan bowlers ineffective.

A rain interruption after 27 overs forced a pause of about one and a half hours. When play resumed, the pair kept their momentum, offering no respite to the opposition.

No Sri Lankan bowler has managed a wicket in the two sessions completed so far.

The Indian lineup, captained by Shubman Gill, featured Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Manish Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prithvi Shaw.

Sri Lanka’s eleven comprised captain Dhananjaya de Silva and a combination of pace and spin options.