India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test of the two-match series. However, the game would have ended in a draw had the proceedings continued for another over or two. There was a prediction of heavy rainfall in the second session of the contest, and the downpour started just after India took the last wicket to secure a victory.
KL Rahul spoke to the broadcasting channel after the positive outcome for India, and he highlighted the team’s worry as the match went on after the lunch break.
“We didn’t want to delay the game because of the rain forecast. We had one eye on the clouds, and we are relieved with the win. It was a great Test match. It was good for five days. There was something for the spinners, but the batters got runs if they were committed to their game plan,” said Rahul.
The opening batter hailed the curator for the surface in Galle.
“This is what we want to see in Test cricket. It was a great wicket and overall a good Test match. We intended to keep the ball in the right areas as the wicket was helping the spinners. We need to be patient. Once the ball got old, their batters added runs to the total. If a batter came out with a plan, he struggled during the game as proper planning and execution were the need of the hour on this kind of surface,” he added.
Rahul scored 82 and 35 in the game.
Manav Suthar was India’s hero as he took six wickets in the second innings, and the timely breakthroughs by him allowed Shubman Gill’s team to seal a massive win over the host nation. Overall, he took 10 wickets in just the second five-day game of his Test career.
Devdutt Padikkal also played a big role in the result, having amassed over 200 runs across two innings. He scored a big hundred in the first innings, with India posting over 460 runs while the southpaw accumulated 44 in the second essay.
Padikkal was named the Player of the Match for keeping India ahead in the game. India didn’t feel the absence of pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out due to a knee injury. The second and final Test will be played from August 23 in Colombo. Gill’s side is fifth in the WTC standings, and a win in the upcoming match would keep their hopes of playing in the final alive.