Jurel's unbeaten 95 steers India to 475/8 as rain halts Day 2 vs Sri Lanka
Synopsis
Dhruv Jurel stood five runs from a landmark century as rain denied India further progress on Day 2 of the 2nd Test in Colombo. With India at 475/8 and Jurel unbeaten on 95 off 155 balls, the visitors are in a commanding position — but the weather may yet have a say in how far they stretch their lead.
Key Takeaways
Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 95 off 155 balls , five runs short of his second Test century.
India closed the interrupted session at 475/8 in 131.2 overs at the SSC Ground, Colombo .
Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 117 ; Rishabh Pant contributed 63 off 89 balls .
Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's most effective bowler with 4 wickets for 78 runs .
Heavy rain and high winds forced an early tea break, with Mohammed Siraj yet to score at the other end.
Jurel and Pant had shared a 112-run partnership off 152 balls before Pant's dismissal.
Dhruv Jurel batted with calm authority to remain unbeaten on 95 as heavy rain brought an early end to the second session on Day 2 of the 2nd Test between India and Sri Lanka at the SSC Ground in Colombo on Monday, 24 August. At the time of the stoppage, India had posted 475/8 in 131.2 overs, with Jurel standing just five runs short of what would be his second Test century and his first on Sri Lankan soil.
How the Session Unfolded
The afternoon session began with Sri Lanka striking immediately after lunch — Rishabh Pant was dismissed off the very first ball, caught at long-off off the bowling of Keshara Nuwantha for an entertaining 63 off 89 balls. The wicket ended a 112-run partnership off 152 balls between Pant and Jurel, but the wicketkeeper-batter from India quickly regrouped alongside Manav Suthar.
Suthar proved a composed partner as the surface began offering noticeable turn. He handled Sri Lanka's short-ball tactics well and even stepped out to loft Nuwantha over the mid-off boundary. The pair added 39 runs and carried India past the 450-run mark before left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya finally broke through after a 35-over toil.
Key Wickets and Partnerships
Jayasuriya drew Suthar into a push outside off-stump, extracting a thin edge that was pouched behind the stumps by Niroshan Dickwella. Suthar departed for 18. With Mohammed Siraj — yet to score after facing 17 deliveries — content to defend, Jurel smartly farmed the strike and kept the scoreboard ticking.
Earlier in the day, Devdutt Padikkal had anchored the innings with a century, finishing with 117 to his name. Asitha Fernando was the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers, claiming 4 wickets for 78 runs, while Nuwantha returned figures of 2 for 154.
Jurel's Innings at a Glance
Jurel's knock of 95 off 155 balls was defined by excellent footwork against the turning ball. He deployed a well-timed reverse sweep off Sonal Dinusha to move into the eighties, and when Sri Lanka introduced pacer Fernando in search of a fifth wicket, Jurel responded by flicking a full toss through mid-wicket for a boundary to reach 95.
Rain Forces Early Tea
High winds and darkening skies prompted the umpires to call an early tea break before rain intensified, forcing groundstaff to cover the entire playing surface. Play could not resume in the session. India's total of 475/8 already represents a commanding position in the match, and Jurel's unbeaten knock keeps alive the prospect of the visitors pushing past the 500-run mark when play resumes.
Brief Scores: India 475/8 in 131.2 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 95*; Asitha Fernando 4-78, Keshara Nuwantha 2-154) vs Sri Lanka.
Point of View
Rather than throwing his wicket away chasing a hundred, speaks to a maturity that selectors will note. Sri Lanka's bowling, meanwhile, looks thin beyond Fernando: Nuwantha's figures of 2 for 154 tell their own story. The rain may have spared the hosts further punishment, but India's position at 475/8 already frames this Test firmly in the visitors' favour.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dhruv Jurel's score in the 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka?
Dhruv Jurel is unbeaten on 95 off 155 balls in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC Ground in Colombo. He is five runs short of what would be his second Test century and his first on Sri Lankan soil.
What is India's total on Day 2 of the 2nd Test in Colombo?
India reached 475/8 in 131.2 overs before rain halted play during the second session on Day 2. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 117, while Jurel remains not out on 95.
Why was play stopped in the 2nd Test at Colombo?
Heavy rain and high winds over the SSC Ground forced the umpires to call an early tea break on Day 2. Rain intensified shortly after, and groundstaff covered the entire playing area, preventing a resumption in that session.
How did Asitha Fernando perform for Sri Lanka?
Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 78 runs in the innings. He was searching for a fifth wicket when rain arrived to halt play.
What happened to Rishabh Pant in the 2nd Test?
Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 63 off 89 balls, caught at long-off off the bowling of Keshara Nuwantha on the first ball after the lunch break. His partnership with Jurel had yielded 112 runs off 152 balls.
