Padikkal and Jurel Centuries Put India in Command of the Colombo Test
Published on August 24, 2026
Summary Overview: Devdutt Padikkal's second century of the series and Dhruv Jurel's 115 drove India to 503-9 declared, before Sri Lanka slumped to 8-2 on Day 2 of the Colombo Test. Full report and scorecard.
Padikkal and Jurel Centuries Put India in Command of the Colombo Test
By Cricket Daily
India are in total control of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Centuries from Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel powered them to a huge 503 for 9 declared, and by the close of day two they had reduced Sri Lanka to a perilous 8 for 2, still trailing by a massive 495 runs. With a 1-0 series lead already in the bag, India can smell a clean sweep.
Padikkal makes it two from two
The man of the moment is Devdutt Padikkal. Having scored 167 in the first Test in Galle, the number three followed up with a superb 117 here, giving him hundreds in back-to-back Tests and confirming a breakout series. Batting at three, one of the most important positions in the order, he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands and looks a player transformed.
His was not the only century, though. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel produced a brilliant unbeaten 115 lower down the order, anchoring the innings through to the declaration and showing exactly why India rate his temperament so highly.
A total built by everyone
While Padikkal and Jurel provided the centuries, this was a proper team effort. Rishabh Pant played his usual counter-attacking hand with 63, captain Shubman Gill batted with control for 50, and there were useful contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (45) and the returning Ravindra Jadeja (43). Even the lower order dug in, allowing India to bat deep into day two before declaring on 503 for 9.
For newcomers, a declaration is when a team voluntarily ends its innings, even with wickets in hand, because it believes it has enough runs and wants time to bowl the opposition out twice. India clearly feel 503 is more than enough on this pitch. Sri Lanka's most successful bowler was seamer Asitha Fernando, who toiled hard for 4 for 106, while spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha took two apiece but were expensive.
Sri Lanka in early trouble
Facing that mountain, Sri Lanka's reply could hardly have started worse. They slumped to 8 for 2 in just three overs before the close, losing opener Lahiru Udara to Prasidh Krishna and then the nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya, sent in to protect a specialist batter, to the impressive young spinner Manav Suthar.
At 8 for 2 and trailing by 495, Sri Lanka face an enormous task simply to make India bat again, let alone save the match. The pressure is entirely on the hosts as they head into day three.
The series picture
India arrived in Colombo 1-0 up after a commanding 165-run win in the first Test in Galle, a match defined by Padikkal's 167 and a stunning ten-wicket haul from Manav Suthar. Win or draw this Test, and India take the series. On the evidence of the first two days, they are well placed to complete a sweep and give their World Test Championship campaign a significant boost.
Sri Lanka, for their part, will need something special. Their batting has to bat long and big just to stay in the contest, and history says chasing this kind of deficit on a wearing subcontinental pitch is desperately hard.
What happens next
Day three is now pivotal. Sri Lanka must rebuild from a dire position and try to bat through the day to avoid the follow-on, the rule that lets India send them straight back in if they fall well short of India's total. India, meanwhile, will fancy their spinners to make further inroads as the surface deteriorates. The game is firmly in India's grip, but there is still work to do to close it out.
Keep it locked to Cricket Daily for day-by-day coverage of India's tour of Sri Lanka.
Scorecard
India 1st innings 503-9 declared (138 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | b Asitha Fernando | 45 | 53 | 9 | 0 |
| KL Rahul | c Dickwella b Lahiru Kumara | 18 | 33 | 2 | 1 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | b Keshara Nuwantha | 11 | 71 | 9 | 3 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | c Dickwella b Asitha Fernando | 50 | 108 | 6 | 0 |
| Rishabh Pant (wk) | c Lahiru Udara b Keshara Nuwantha | 63 | 89 | 6 | 2 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | b Asitha Fernando | 43 | 83 | 4 | 0 |
| Dhruv Jurel | not out | 115 | 177 | 9 | 2 |
| Saransh Jain | c Kamil Mishara b Asitha Fernando | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Manav Suthar | c Dickwella b Prabath Jayasuriya | 18 | 51 | 2 | 0 |
| Mohammed Siraj | lbw b Prabath Jayasuriya | 3 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Prasidh Krishna | not out | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Extras: 21 (b 8, lb 3, w 7, nb 3)
Total: 503 (9 wkts declared, 138 overs)
Bowling: Asitha Fernando 29-5-106-4, Lahiru Kumara 20-4-68-1, Prabath Jayasuriya 42-7-132-2, Keshara Nuwantha 38-3-154-2, Sonal Dinusha 3-0-8-0, Dhananjaya de Silva 2-0-8-0, Kamil Mishara 4-0-16-0.
Sri Lanka 1st innings 8-2 (3 overs, at stumps day 2)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Lahiru Udara | c Jaiswal b Prasidh Krishna | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Kamil Mishara | batting | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | lbw b Manav Suthar | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling so far: Mohammed Siraj 1-0-1-0, Prasidh Krishna 1-0-1-1, Manav Suthar 1-0-6-1.
Day 2 stumps: Sri Lanka trail by 495 runs with eight wickets in hand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the score in the second Test?
At stumps on day two, India declared on 503 for 9, and Sri Lanka are 8 for 2 in reply, trailing by 495 runs.
Who scored the centuries for India?
Devdutt Padikkal made 117 and Dhruv Jurel finished unbeaten on 115.
Why is Padikkal's hundred significant?
It is his second century of the series after 167 in the first Test, giving him hundreds in back-to-back Tests.
What is the series situation?
India lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Galle by 165 runs, so a win or draw here seals the series.
Can Sri Lanka save the match?
It will be very difficult. From 8 for 2 and trailing by 495, they must bat exceptionally well over the next two days to avoid defeat.