TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: With the handshake looming, Shubman Gill introduced himself into the attack. Judging by their body language, India had already checked out of the fixture with Sri Lanka’s lead over 200 runs and little time remaining. A result in India’s favour was almost out of the equation and the visitors were waiting for the formalities to be completed. Yashasvi Jaiswal was introduced from the other end, and even Dhruv Jurel rolled his arm over as the writing was on the cards. India would rue drawing a Test they were in a very good position of winning, squandering the opportunity to bolster their World Test Championship (WTC) final chances.Sometimes, draws feel like wins and Sri Lanka must have a similar feeling in Colombo. With chips down and backs to the wall, Sonal Dinusha produced a performance for the ages, who had an equally stubborn lower-order for company. He has been the rockstar for the hosts in this series and made India dance to his tunes when he battled for close to two days to eke out a hard-fought draw. The 25-year-old’s sequence of scores in the series read 100, 84, 103 and 133*, and across the four innings his compact technique, composure and solid temperament stood out.It wasn’t easy; whenever he came out to bat, the team was in a spot of bother and he mostly had the lower-order and tail for company. In the second Test alone, he spent nearly 147 overs out in the middle, facing 71 overs, frustrating the visitors and keeping the win out of their reach.It didn’t help that Mohammed Siraj wasn’t running in with the steam he would have liked and the pitch offered turn but not enough threat. The tone was set by the pair of Keshara Nuwantha and Dinusha for over 40 overs and the former ended up playing 150 deliveries in the process. Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando followed the drill and India just carried on in hopes of things miraculously falling into place.The 116th over of the Sri Lankan innings was significant in more ways than one. Siraj patiently waited to bowl as Sarfaraz Khan suggested field changes to Shubman Gill before the fast bowler began. The short-ball trap was set. After trying it for two deliveries, which Sonal Dinusha ducked safely, the bowler walked up to the stumps and flipped the bails. This was India’s second attempt, followed by a very creative field setting, likely the first of its kind that day.
Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha celebrates his hundred runs on day five of the second Test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI08_27_2026_000287A)
The entire field moved towards the off-side, placing enough men in catching positions for a miscued drive. Dinusha had been pushed back for most of the over and here Siraj was trying to induce a false shot from the most consistent batter of the series. The plan didn’t work but India’s attempt to finally make things happen brought success when Prabath Jayasuriya was dismissed in the very next over while driving against Ravindra Jadeja. India, even after picking up two wickets in the first hour after Lunch, were still two wickets away from beginning their chase but that 12-ball period summed up a story of what could have, and should have, been for India in the first session.The pitch was flat, the body language was flatter and the tactics the flattest. The open fields and the focus solely on dismissing Dinusha’s partner not only allowed desperation to creep in but also prevented sustained pressure, as there were easy runs available, meaning the left-hander didn’t need to take risks. India were again guilty of going through the motions and the defensive ploys were baffling to say the least at a time when wickets were needed.India, however, focused on cutting off boundaries, allowing easy singles and even keeping fielders positioned for a reverse-sweep. In a Test match! It was a period where shoulders started dropping, leaving India head coach Gautam Gambhir with no option but to summon captain Gill to the change room before the lunch break.The skipper spoke to coach Gambhir and video analyst Hari Prasad Mohan when nothing was going their way in the first session. They took the new ball, tried different combinations, played around with the field, albeit defensively, but none worked. Despite being in a position of absolute control, India played catch-up. However, with the weather gods permitting and the advantage of the first-innings run cushion, they always had the best chance of securing a favourable result.Across the two innings, Sri Lanka’s lower-order, apart from the usual suspect Dinusha, remained the thorn in the flesh as they collectively faced 71 overs deliveries. This will require a lot of introspection and the team needs to be tactically better for tougher shores in future. It took India 44.1 overs to wrap up the tail in the first innings, but they couldn’t do that in more than 90 overs in the second. The runs were never the question but the hosts were wiping off crucial time from the fixture, hoping the dark clouds would rescue them and help force the best result: a draw.
Colombo: India’s Ravindra Jadeja, left, with Coach Gautam Gambhir on day five of the second Test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI08_27_2026_000296B)
The hosts fought for a draw – a result which looked extremely unlikely. The weather allowed India a proper crack at the opposition but the resistance from Sri Lanka’s lower-order not only avoided the whitewash but also dealt a major dent to India’s WTC final qualification hopes. With just one win, they now have no room to slip in the remaining seven Tests – two away against New Zealand and five at home against Australia.
