Sri Lanka Faces Uphill Battle Against India in Galle Test

On Day 4 of the Test match in Galle, Sri Lanka faced a tough challenge, losing four wickets while chasing a target of 372 runs against India. Rishabh Pant made headlines with his record-breaking performance, becoming the first Indian to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. As the match approaches its final day, India needs six wickets for victory, while Sri Lanka aims for 288 runs to win or to survive for a draw. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 18, 2026, 19:29 IST

Sri Lanka's Struggles on Day 4

On Day 4 of the Test match at Galle International Stadium, Sri Lanka found themselves in a precarious position, losing four early wickets while attempting to chase a daunting target of 372 runs against India. Sonal Dinusha, who scored a century in the first innings, remains not out at 25, alongside captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who is on 31. The hosts need an additional 288 runs to secure victory as they prepare for the final day's play.

India's Second Innings Overview

The day commenced with India resuming their second innings, holding a substantial lead of 178 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck in the very first over, caught behind off Asitha Fernando's bowling. KL Rahul contributed 35 runs, forming a partnership of 65 runs with Devdutt Padikkal before Prabath Jayasuriya ended that stand. Jayasuriya also claimed the wicket of Indian captain, who managed only eight runs.

Rishabh Pant's Remarkable Performance

Rishabh Pant entered the crease and began to accelerate the scoring, but Padikkal was dismissed after scoring 44 runs. Pant formed a 54-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, comfortably reaching his half-century. Notably, he became the first Indian player to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. His innings of 66 runs came off just 69 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes. Ultimately, India was all out for 193 runs in 49 overs, setting Sri Lanka a challenging target.

Sri Lanka's Chase Falters

After the tea break, Sri Lanka's batting collapsed as they lost four wickets in quick succession. Manav Suthar took two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna each claimed one wicket for India.

Anticipation for the Final Day

As the match heads into Day 5, India requires six more wickets to clinch victory, while Sri Lanka aims to score 288 runs to win or survive all three sessions for a draw.