Head coach Gautam Gambhir reflected on India’s 1-0 series win over Sri Lanka while also praising opposition batter Sonal Dinusha for his fighting effort in Colombo. India had a strong chance to complete a 2-0 series sweep after enforcing the follow-on, but Dinusha stood in their way with an unbeaten century. The Indian bowlers needed four wickets on the final day to wrap up the innings and set up a chase, but managed only two. Dinusha’s resistance, along with Asitha Fernando’s support, ensured Sri Lanka avoided defeat as the second Test ended in a draw. Despite missing out on a clean sweep, India returned home with the series victory.
Gautam Gambhir applauds Sonal Dinusha after Sri Lanka’s fighting draw in Colombo. (AFP and AP)
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Gambhir praised the character shown by Indian players in a hard-fought Test while singling out Dinusha for his outstanding effort that helped Sri Lanka secure a draw in Colombo.
"Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that’s shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance!" Gambhir wrote on X.
Deep Dive
What accolades did Sonal Dinusha receive after the second Test against India?
Sonal Dinusha was praised by Gautam Gambhir for his fighting effort, scoring an unbeaten century that helped Sri Lanka avoid defeat and became the eighth Sri Lankan to score centuries in both innings of a Test.
Why did India fail to secure a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka?
India managed to take only two wickets on the final day despite needing four, allowing Sri Lanka, led by Dinusha's resistance, to secure a draw instead of a loss.
How did Shubman Gill respond to questions about India's performance in the Colombo Test?
Shubman Gill acknowledged the positives from the match, stated he saw little his team could have done differently, and praised the determination shown by the Sri Lankan players.
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Dinusha had a phenomenal series, averaging 140 across the two Tests and finishing with 420 runs, including three centuries. Two of those hundreds came in the drawn second Test in Colombo, where he stood firm against India’s attack. Interestingly, 173 of his 420 runs across the Galle and Colombo Tests came through sweep shots.
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Dinusha had a phenomenal series, averaging 140 across the two Tests and finishing with 420 runs, including three centuries. Two of those hundreds came in the drawn second Test in Colombo, where he stood firm against India’s attack. Interestingly, 173 of his 420 runs across the Galle and Colombo Tests came through sweep shots.
Meanwhile, he became only the eighth Sri Lankan batter to score centuries in both innings of a Test, joining an elite list featuring Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinha, Aravinda de Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva.
India fifth on WTC points table
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India, who declared their first innings at 503/9, enforced the follow-on after bowling Sri Lanka out for 290. The hosts were in deep trouble at 218/6 in their second innings before Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha dug in to frustrate India and secure a draw. Despite missing out on a 2-0 series win, India retained fifth place in the World Test Championship standings, with Sri Lanka sitting sixth.
India captain Shubman Gill admitted he saw little his team could have done differently after Sri Lanka’s stubborn fightback denied them a 2-0 series sweep, while praising the hosts for the way they battled back.
"I don't think we could have done anything differently," said India skipper Shubman Gill. "A lot of positives for us, learning from the opposition. The way they came back, it was tremendous to see."
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.
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Home/Cricket/Gautam Gambhir's ‘special shoutout’ to Sonal Dinusha yet lauds Indian players' character after Colombo draw
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