Star Spinner Manav Suthar Claims 10 Wickets as India Defeats Sri Lanka in Landmark 600th Test

Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar delivered a stellar performance, finishing with a match-winning haul of 10 wickets as India secured a commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle on Wednesday. The triumph gives India a 1-0 lead in the two-match series during their milestone 600th Test match.

Playing in only his second Test, Suthar maintained exceptional line and length to finish with figures of 6-55 in the second innings, following his four-wicket haul in the first. His efforts bowled out the hosts for 206 shortly after lunch on the final day, successfully defending a target of 372 runs.

Indian captain Shubman Gill expressed satisfaction with the result, praising the team's resilience. "We were in a comfortable position but were not sure if the match would go on, but the team responded well," Gill said, while also lauding Suthar as a promising long-term prospect for Indian cricket.

Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships in their second innings, despite resistance from captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored 59, and Sonal Dinusha, who top-scored with 84. De Silva and Dinusha shared a 95-run stand for the fifth wicket before de Silva fell to Ravindra Jadeja. Dinusha displayed remarkable maturity during his 128-ball knock, though he lacked support from the rest of the batting lineup.

Suthar triggered a late-order collapse after lunch, claiming a triple-wicket maiden and eventually wrapping up the innings by removing Keshara Nuwantha. The final four wickets tumbled for just seven runs, all falling to Suthar.

For India, top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal also made a significant impact, contributing scores of 167 and 44 after entering the lineup as a late injury replacement.

The two teams will now travel to Colombo for the second Test match, which begins on Sunday.