India edges closer to victory in Galle as Rishabh Pant hits his 100th six and Manav Suthar claims two crucial wickets.

India has taken a commanding position in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, driven by a remarkable performance from Rishabh Pant. The wicketkeeper-batter not only scored a brisk half-century but also made history by becoming the first Indian and the fastest player to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. With a target of 372 runs set for the hosts, India's bowlers quickly asserted their dominance, making significant inroads into the Sri Lankan batting lineup.

After a brief interruption due to rain, India's pace attack, led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, struck early, each claiming a wicket. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar also proved effective in the spin-friendly conditions, taking two wickets for just 30 runs, bringing his match tally to six for 106 in his debut Test away from home. Sri Lanka's batting woes continued as they stumbled to 47 for four before ending the day at 84 for four in 34 overs. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva remained at the crease with 31 runs, while first-innings centurion Sonal Dinusha contributed an unbeaten 25.

As the match heads into its final day, India requires just six more wickets to secure victory, while Sri Lanka faces the daunting task of needing 288 runs. Historically, the highest successful fourth-innings chase at Galle stands at 344 runs, achieved by Pakistan in 2022, making Sri Lanka's task appear increasingly improbable.

India's innings saw a resurgence thanks to Pant, who scored 66 runs off 69 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. His innings was highlighted by a spectacular six off pacer Lahiru Kumara, which sailed over long-off and landed on the road outside the stadium. This knock marked Pant's 20th Test fifty and his milestone 100th six in the format. Despite a shaky start that saw India at 120 for five, Pant's efforts helped the team reach a total of 193 all out.

Sri Lanka's bowling attack was led by Asitha Fernando, who took four wickets for 31 runs, and Prabath Jayasuriya, who claimed three for 43. India's opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a duck in the first over, while Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply as well. However, Devdutt Padikkal and KL Rahul provided stability with a partnership of 65 runs for the second wicket, showcasing some aggressive batting before both fell to the Sri Lankan bowlers.