🏏India tour of Sri Lanka 2026: 2nd Test at Colombo: 23/08/26-Day 2🏏- Page 10

India's close of play scores on day 1 in Sri Lanka - last six Tests (Min 50 overs bowled)

319/6 Colombo PSS 2015 (Won)

399/3 Galle 2017 (Won)

344/3 Colombo SSC 2017 (Won)

329/6 Pallekele 2017 (Won)

288/2 Galle 2026 (Won)

300/5 Colombo SSC 2026

Asitha Fernando by lengths today

Full (<6m): 0/21 off 29 balls (FS% 6.9)

Good (6-8m): 3/6 off 36 balls (FS% 13.9)

Short: 0/19 off 31 balls (FS% 12.9)

-- Spinners have had a drop in 15.5% in terms of average turn today compared to day 1 of the 1st Test at Galle; less than one in four of the balls (24.2%) turned more than 4.5 degrees while the lowest in any of the day's play at Galle was 34.1% on the second day's play.

Sri Lankan seamers bowled noticeably fuller with the second new ball compared to any of the previous 10-over blocks but only two of the 24 balls in the spell was projected to hit the stumps of which one claimed the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja.

Interesting observation from Russel Arnold in his pitch report. He says this pitch has offered 4cm higher bounce on average than the one in Galle did. We saw that yesterday, and we saw a little bit of inconsistent bounce too, and Sri Lanka's seamers made good use of that, particularly Asitha Fernando, who has been nicknamed 'Diesel Engine' by Sri Lanka's bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk. Anyway, given that this pitch is only likely to get more challenging for batting as this Test match wears on, it will be crucial for Sri Lanka to try and bowl India out as quickly as they can today.

Yesterday's biggest story was that of Devdutt Padikkal, who scored his second hundred of the series and seemed to go a long way towards cementing the No. 3 spot for India. One standout feature of his game through this series has been his ability to create run-scoring opportunities off the back foot against good-length bowling from the spinners.

Sanket: "India would look to get close to 400 and for that Jurel is going to be the key. But SL won't be too unhappy with that, as the surface is still good to bat on for today and atleast Tommorow. Just they need to make sure to get close to India's total as much as possible. In the last game too, that first innings of SL put them on backfoot so it will be good contest if SL does this."

As of now, the chances for SL winning are 61% and for India 25%. There is a chance of 14% for a draw as well.

May the best team win!

Lahiru Kumara to Saransh Jain, 2 runs, on a length around middle and leg, clipped through mid-wicket by Saransh Jain for a couple of runs to end the first over of the day

86 overs

304/5

Jain out

Asitha Fernando to Saransh Jain, out Caught by Kamil Mishara!! Short and quick around off, Saransh Jain gets into an awkward position due to the sharp bounce. Gets into a tangle and as he tries to tuck it away, a leading edge is induced towards gully. The fielder stationed at gully - Mishara is quick to move across to his left. He puts in a dive and completes a well judged catch. Saransh Jain c Kamil Mishara b Asitha Fernando 6(8) [4s-1]

Asitha Fernando to Saransh Jain, THATS OUT!! Caught!!