Former Sri Lanka cricketer Russel Arnold has singled out Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar as the primary architects of India's emphatic 165-run victory in the first Test at Galle International Stadium, lauding Padikkal's 'class' and Suthar's 'patience' as the twin pillars of an innings that gave India complete control from the outset.

Padikkal's Career-Best 167 Sets the Tone

Stepping up to number three in the absence of B Sai Sudharsan, Padikkal — playing only his third Test — struck a career-best 167 in the first innings, anchoring India's batting with calm aggression. A vital 44 in the second innings further extended India's advantage, leaving Sri Lanka with an insurmountable target.

Arnold described Padikkal as a batter who knows his game intimately. 'Padikkal seems to be in a great zone. He just seems to know exactly what he's about. He uses his strengths really well, and that's his reach and the way he uses his feet — playing on these slower conditions and pitches are an art, actually. It might seem easy, but everyone doesn't get runs,' Arnold said in a virtual interaction organised by Sony Sports Network on Thursday.

Arnold added: 'As you would have seen right throughout the test match, everyone else did struggle. Most others did struggle, and the fact that he's confident and he's been doing really well in all formats, I think this opportunity has come at the right time so that his form also does count. But he's shown a lot of class and quality, and I reckon he's one that India can expect a lot from.'

Suthar Outshines Star Spinners With Match Figures of 10-131

Manav Suthar, hailing from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, produced a masterclass in classical spin bowling, finishing with match figures of 4-76 and 6-55 — outperforming a spin attack that also featured Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. His subtle variations in pace and release angle kept Sri Lanka's batters perpetually off-balance.

Arnold drew a direct comparison to Sri Lanka spin legend Rangana Herath. 'Suthar, on the other hand, is so simple, so good to watch, and I think that's his strength — being simple and being patient. On Sri Lankan pitches, we keep harping about the fact that you do get natural variations. Of course, certain spinners have a lot of skill. That was Murali, for example, or Warne. But others who have done really well have been by keeping it simple and staying patient. The best case in point is Rangana Herath, and Suthar seemed to be doing just that,' Arnold said.

He continued: 'Getting in there, just varying his pace and varying how he releases the ball. It was all there and thereabouts. So that was the good thing from those two. The patience of Suthar is what took him through, and that is hard to maintain.'

Why Their Emergence Matters for Indian Cricket

The performances carry added weight given the structural gaps India must now fill. With Ravichandran Ashwin retired and Jadeja entering the twilight of his career, the spin department is in a period of transition. Equally, India's search for a settled number three batter has been ongoing since Cheteshwar Pujara's departure — a void Padikkal now appears best-placed to fill.

Notably, this is the third Test series in recent memory where India's lesser-heralded names have stepped up when senior players were unavailable, underscoring the depth of the current squad. The Galle win, built on individual brilliance from two relative newcomers, suggests the pipeline is healthier than critics have argued.

What Lies Ahead in Colombo

Stiffer tests await. India face Australia and New Zealand later in the cycle, and both Padikkal and Suthar will need to sustain their form against more varied attacks on different surfaces. The immediate challenge arrives when the second Test gets underway in Colombo on Sunday, 24 August 2026. India will hope the pair can carry their Galle momentum into a venue where conditions are expected to be similarly spin-friendly.