Shubman Gill backs Manav Suthar after 10-wicket Galle Test

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India captain Shubman Gill praised Manav Suthar after the left-arm spinner claimed a 10-wicket match haul in India’s 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle.

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IPL 2026 data links: IPL 2026 data hub, IPL 2026 points table, IPL 2026 Orange Cap, IPL 2026 Purple Cap, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shreyas Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal.

Suthar took 4/76 in Sri Lanka’s first innings and 6/55 in the second. The 24-year-old completed his second successive five-wicket haul in as many Tests and, according to the original match report, became the youngest Indian to take 10 wickets in an away Test.

“He has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time,” Gill said at the post-match presentation.

Suthar leads India’s push for victory

Manav Suthar supplied the decisive second-innings spell as India converted a strong match position into a victory before rain arrived in Galle.

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Player Innings Figures
Manav Suthar Sri Lanka first innings 4/76
Manav Suthar Sri Lanka second innings 6/55

Gill said India had been unsure whether the weather would leave enough time to complete the match. The captain described the result as satisfying because the team responded before rain could intervene.

“We were in a comfortable position, but were not sure if the match would go on because of the weather, but the team responded well,” Gill said.

Devdutt Padikkal makes selection opportunity count

Devdutt Padikkal earned the Player of the Match award after scoring 167 in the first innings and 44 in the second from the No. 3 position.

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India selected Padikkal at No. 3 after Sai Sudharsan failed to recover from a big toe injury. Gill praised Padikkal for turning a century into a substantial first-innings score and then maintaining an aggressive approach in the second innings.

Padikkal said the Galle pitch was initially slow and offered limited bite, allowing left-handed batters to manage Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinners. The batter added that natural wear brought more turn from the third day onwards.

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“The wicket had its natural wear and tear, was a good Test wicket. Turned a lot more from the third day onwards,” Padikkal said after receiving the award.

India balance quick runs against weather risk

India accepted greater batting risk in the second innings because Gill wanted a lead of around 400 while preserving enough time to dismiss Sri Lanka.

India were bowled out for 193 in the second innings, but Gill said the collapse did not concern him. The captain explained that scoring freely was difficult and India had tried to accelerate because the available bowling time on days four and five remained uncertain.

The victory gave India 12 World Test Championship points. The source report placed India fifth in the standings with 53.33 percentage points and identified qualification for the WTC final as Gill’s wider objective.

“That is the ultimate goal. Test wins do not come easy and this one is delightful,” Gill said.