The day began with heavy rain, which led to the cancellation of the morning session. Play resumed at 2:35 PM local time, with India starting the day at a commanding 288 for 2. Although they added 172 runs before the close of play, Sri Lanka's bowlers improved their performance significantly, preventing India from dominating the match entirely. Kuldeep Yadav, who remained not out on 12, and Prasidh Krishna, who had 1 run, were at the crease when play was halted.
Padikkal Shines with a Career-Best Score
Resuming his innings on 131, Padikkal showcased his talent at the No. 3 position, ultimately achieving his first Test score of over 150 runs. He reached 167 runs off 230 deliveries, striking 15 boundaries and a six. This achievement placed him among an elite group of Indian batsmen, as he became only the third player to score 150 or more runs against Sri Lanka from the No. 3 spot, following in the footsteps of legends Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Padikkal's innings came to an end when he was deceived by Prabath Jayasuriya's delivery, leading to a sharp stumping by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella. As he left the field, the Galle crowd honored him with a standing ovation, recognizing one of the finest performances in the innings.
India's Middle Order Faces Challenges
After the rain delay, India's overnight batsmen struggled to build on their strong start. Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 39 runs after attempting an aggressive shot against Keshara Nuwantha, which resulted in a catch by Sonal Dinusha. KL Rahul, who had retired hurt on Day 1 with 77 runs, returned to the crease but could only add five runs to his score before being caught at short leg for 82 runs.
As India approached tea at 364 for 5, Sri Lanka continued to apply pressure. Ravindra Jadeja fell to Nuwantha for 13 runs, but Dhruv Jurel provided crucial resistance with a counter-attacking 51 runs off 68 balls. Jurel was given a reprieve when a catch was dropped, but he was eventually dismissed by Jayasuriya, who also took the wicket of Manav Suthar, who scored 24 runs.
Jayasuriya emerged as Sri Lanka's leading bowler, claiming 4 wickets for 109 runs, while Nuwantha took 3 for 175. Mohammed Siraj was dismissed late in the day, but India managed to avoid further losses, with Kuldeep and Prasidh adding an unbeaten 13 runs. Despite Sri Lanka's late resurgence, India remains in a strong position, with Padikkal's 167, Rahul's 82, and Jurel's 51 providing a solid foundation for their first innings.
