India began their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on a winning note after producing a commanding performance in Galle. The visitors secured a 165-run victory in the first Test, overcoming a determined Sri Lankan challenge to take a crucial 1-0 lead in the series.
While Devdutt Padikkal’s outstanding century gave India a strong foundation with the bat, Manav Suthar delivered a match-winning performance with the ball. The two players played central roles in India’s impressive victory, prompting fans to flood social media with reactions.
Devdutt Padikkal sets up India’s dominant first innings
India won the toss and elected to bat first, posting an imposing 462 on the back of Padikkal’s magnificent 167. The left-hander produced a composed yet commanding innings to register his maiden Test century and put India in a strong position. KL Rahul also played an important supporting role, scoring 82 as India built a substantial first-innings total. Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya was their most successful bowler with figures of 4/109.
The hosts struggled to match India’s batting effort in reply and were dismissed for 284. Sonal Dinusha completed his maiden Test century with a fighting 100, while Niroshan Dickwella contributed 80. However, Suthar’s 4/76 helped India secure a 178-run first-innings advantage.
Manav Suthar delivers when India need him most
India’s second innings proved considerably more difficult as Asitha Fernando claimed four wickets for 31 runs. Rishabh Pant’s attacking 66 helped India reach 193, leaving Sri Lanka with a target of 372. The hosts began their chase with hopes of making India work hard for victory, but Suthar once again proved decisive. The spinner claimed 6/55 to complete a superb 10-wicket match haul.
Dinusha and Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva scored 84 and 59 respectively, but India continued to take wickets at crucial moments. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 206, handing India a 165-run victory. The result gives India a 1-0 advantage before the second Test in Colombo, which begins on August 23.
Here’s how fans reacted:
A clinical finish on Day 5! 🔥
India wraps up a comprehensive 165-run victory over Sri Lanka with a complete team performance across all four innings! 🏏👏#SLvIND #TeamIndia #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/mIhbvciFwy
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) August 19, 2026
An elated #TeamIndia camp as we win the 1st Test at Galle and go 1-0 up in the series.#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/sAyxV03jcJ
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 19, 2026
It was a match to celebrate young talents. Keshara Nuwantha in his first test, Manav Suthar in his second, Padikkal in his third and Dinusha in his fourth. Wonderful to see.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 19, 2026
Manav Suthar and a reinvented Devdutt Padikkal…. great gains for India in a professional performance #IndvsSL
— Ajay Kamath (@ajay43) August 19, 2026
INDIA BEAT SRI LANKA BY 165 RUNS IN THE GALLE TEST. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/hnLavfiw4B
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 19, 2026
🚨 INDIA WON THE FIRST TEST vs SRI LANKA AT GALLE 🔥
– Gill & boys are back in WTC. pic.twitter.com/1xDdWR5JLZ
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 19, 2026
Best Bowling Fig in SL Test match
(Indians)10/131 – Manav Suthar (2026)*
10/153 – Harbhajan Singh (2008)
10/160 – Ravi Ashwin (2017)New Record 🔥👏#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/NSVjCptIun
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) August 19, 2026
MANAV SUTHAR v SRI LANKA IN FIRST TEST:
– 4/76 in first innings.
– 6/55 in second innings.The game winning bowling spell from Manav Suthar v Sri Lanka. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/UBaaE8Rvph
— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77) August 19, 2026
A test win to cherish and remember!
Great team effort, but Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar stands out. Let’s keep up the momentum further to get back on track for this WTC cycle. pic.twitter.com/GNWrAiWV80
— Kultar Singh (@kssiddhu) August 19, 2026
Ten wickets for Manav Suthar who hasn’t set IPL on fire till now, still he got into the Indian team and has 17 wickets in two tests now, This must be vision of so called Paper Captain Shubman Gill to include him in the test team, he must have observed him and Brar in the GT Camp pic.twitter.com/0CX9CRvVUv
— Ved (@whyved) August 19, 2026
