Team India and GT all-rounder Manav Suthar claimed two early wickets on Day 3 of 1st Test vs Sri Lanka at Galle on Monday.
Published: August 17, 2026, 11:42 AM IST
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India’s Manav Suthar celebrates after claiming a wicket on Day 3 of 1st Test vs Sri Lanka(Source: X)
India vs Sri Lanka 2026 1st Test: Rajasthan and Gujarat Titans left-arm spinner Manav Suthar is only 24 years of age and playing in only his second Test of his first – first away from homeSuthar couldn’t have asked for a better start in the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium as he claimed a wicket off his first ball in the game.
On Day 3 of the 1st Test, after India were bowled out for 462, Suthar was introduced in the 8th over of the match after the Lankans had already lost the early wicket of opener Nishan Madushka – out for a duck in the opening over bowled by Mohammed SirajSuthar produced a brilliant turning ball which caught the edge of the blade of former Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal and pouched comfortably by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
Chandimal, batting at the No3 position, was dismissed for 5 off 16 balls as the Lankans lost their second wicket for 27 runs.
WATCH Manav Suthar pick up a wicket off the first ball of his first over vs Sri Lanka HERE…
Manav Suthar lures Chandimal into the edge, and Rishabh Pant makes no mistake behind the stumps!
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Suthar wasn’t done in the first session as yet as he struck again by dismissing the other Lankan opener Lahiru Udara for 27 – caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at slipsUdara’s knock came off 44 balls with six fours. Lankans slipped further into trouble with chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav picking up a crucial wicket from the other end.
Kuldeep dismissed Lanka No4 batter Kamindu Mendis for 14 off 25 balls (1×6, 1×4) – brilliantly caught by Indian skipper Shubman Gill diving at coversThe home team have collapsed to 59 for 4 in 16.1 over in reply to India’s 462.
Earlier Asitha Fernando wrapped up the Indian innings for 462 by dismissing No11 Prasidh Krishna for 2, caught behind by Niroshan DickwellaIndia posted 462 in 116.4 overs with Devdutt Padikkal top-scoring with 167 while KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel chipped in with 82 and 51 respectively.
For the hosts, Prabath Jayasuriya claimed 4/109 in 39 overs and debutant Keshara Nuwantha claimed 3 for 175.
Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna revealed that keeping the ball ‘dry’ will be crucial to getting reverse swing at Galle in the first Test “It is definitely toughI think that’s where the fielders and everybody comes in to keep the ball dry, help the bowlersTouch the ball the least when they’re running in, only hold it and then run it.
“But I think that’s the skill as wellAs bowlers, you need to find a way, maybe some wristbands, some towels behind your back all the timeSo something like that is going to work,” Prasidh said in a chat with the broadcasters.
The GT and Karnataka pacer brushed aside talks that Galle track could deteriorate early“There hasn’t been a talk about it breaking upWe’ve been looking at the pitch as wellIt doesn’t really look like it’s broken yetBut we’re looking at the areas that the Sri Lankan bowlers bowledThey did a good job at different sessions, so we’re just trying to learn from them,” Krishna said.
