Archive · 26 Aug 2026
India Seek Follow-On as Sri Lanka Battle in Colombo
India scored 503 runs before declaring their first innings closed.
Sri Lanka had scored 265 runs while losing eight wickets by the end of Day 3.
Sonal Dinusha was still batting and had made 85 runs.
Lahiru Kumara was with him on 8 runs.
India’s bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar had taken three wickets each.
Rain and poor light stopped play early.
India wanted to dismiss Sri Lanka quickly and make them bat again.
Sri Lanka wanted to score enough runs to avoid the follow-on and use up more time in the match.
Sri Lanka ended Day 3 at 265/8 after India declared at 503/9.
Sonal Dinusha was unbeaten on 85, with Lahiru Kumara on 8.
India’s Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar took three wickets each.
Rain and bad light brought the third day to an early close.
Reports said Sri Lanka needed either 38 or 39 more runs to avoid the follow-on.
- Who
- India and Sri Lanka, led by Shubman Gill’s India in the two-match Test series.
- What
- India are trying to enforce a follow-on after reducing Sri Lanka to 265/8, while Sri Lanka seek to avoid it.
- When
- Day 4 began on August 26, 2026, after Day 3 ended on August 25.
- Where
- The Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- India want to finish quickly because rain threatens lost playing time; Sri Lanka want to avoid a follow-on and consume time to pursue a draw.
India’s Approach
Sri Lanka’s Approach
Follow-on decision
India’s Approach
India want to take the remaining Sri Lankan wickets and enforce the follow-on.
Sri Lanka’s Approach
Sri Lanka want to score the additional runs required to avoid the follow-on.
Use of match time
India’s Approach
A follow-on could help India finish the match early, especially with rain threatening further interruptions.
Sri Lanka’s Approach
Sri Lanka want to bat as long as possible, use up time and preserve a chance of drawing the Test.
- Match
- India vs Sri Lanka, second Test of a two-match series
- India first innings
- 503/9 declared
- Sri Lanka score
- 265/8 at the end of Day 3
- Top not-out batter
- Sonal Dinusha, unbeaten on 85
- India’s leading wicket-takers
- Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar, with three wickets each
- Match interruption
- Bad light and rain ended Day 3 early
- Broadcast in India
- Sony Sports Network; streaming on Sony LIV
