Padikkal, KL Rahul steady India at 101/1 vs Sri Lanka after Jaiswal run-out
Synopsis
India's landmark 600th Test began with promise and chaos in equal measure at Galle — Jaiswal's fluent 32 ended in a bizarre collision run-out, a debutant spinner struck fear with a helmet blow to a fielder, and yet Padikkal and Rahul steadied the ship to 101/1 by lunch. The pitch will turn; the afternoon session will define India's ambitions.
Key Takeaways
India reached 101/1 in 27 overs at lunch on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium on 15 August .
Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 32 following a collision with debutant spinner Keshara Nuwantha with India on 47/0 .
Devdutt Padikkal ( 35 not out ) and KL Rahul ( 32 not out ) put on an unbroken 54-run second-wicket stand.
Short-leg fielder Nishan Madushka was struck on the helmet by a Rahul pull shot and left the field for medical evaluation.
The match is India's 600th Test and the 50th Test played at Galle.
Devdutt Padikkal (35 not out) and KL Rahul (32 not out) guided India to a composed 101/1 at lunch on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on 15 August, rebuilding steadily after a chaotic run-out ended Yashasvi Jaiswal's knock at 32. The match, India's milestone 600th Test, is also the 50th Test staged at this historic venue.
Jaiswal's Fluent Start Cut Short by Freakish Run-Out
India, who won the toss and elected to bat, were given a fluent platform by Jaiswal and Rahul. Jaiswal looked in superb touch, piercing the field with flicks, on-drives, and cuts off Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara whenever the Sri Lankan pacers strayed in length.
The drama arrived in the 11th over with India on 47 without loss. Rahul drove a flighted delivery from debutant off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha towards mid-on and set off for a single. Jaiswal, moving from the non-striker's end, collided with Nuwantha as the bowler dived to stop the ball. Jaiswal lost his footing and fell; he recovered, but then abruptly turned back. With both batters scrambling for the same end, Rahul grounded his bat first. Keeper Niroshan Dickwella whipped off the bails, and Jaiswal was on his way back for 32 — a wicket that owed nothing to the bowling.
Helmet Scare for Fielder Nishan Madushka
Earlier, Sri Lanka's introduction of spin in the ninth over through Nuwantha — playing his debut Test — produced a worrying moment. Short-leg fielder Nishan Madushka was struck flush on the helmet by a powerful pull shot from Rahul and was forced to leave the field for medical evaluation. There was no immediate update on his condition at the lunch interval.
Padikkal and Rahul Rebuild with Authority
Padikkal, arriving at the crease with considerable confidence after an unbeaten 142 in the warm-up game, wasted no time asserting himself. He hammered Nuwantha for four off his very first over and then launched left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya over long-on for a six in the 14th over.
Rahul, too, grew increasingly fluent, dancing down the track to loft Jayasuriya for a straight six before cutting him past point for four — a stroke that brought up India's hundred in the 26th over. By lunch, the unbroken second-wicket stand between the two had reached 54 runs.
What to Watch in the Second Session
Rain covers were briefly brought on during the lunch break, raising concerns about potential interruptions in what is a landmark occasion for the venue. India will be keen to post a commanding total on a pitch that traditionally assists spin as the match progresses. The afternoon session will test whether Padikkal and Rahul can convert their starts into substantial contributions and give India the upper hand in this 600th Test milestone.
Brief Scores: India 101/1 in 27 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 35 not out, KL Rahul 32 not out) vs Sri Lanka.
Point of View
But the more telling story is what it revealed about India's batting depth: Padikkal walked in and immediately dominated international-quality spin, suggesting the middle order has genuine cover at the top. The Galle pitch historically deteriorates sharply from Day 2 — India's ability to bat through the afternoon session and post 300-plus will be the real measure of this innings, not the chaotic wicket that interrupted it. Notably, playing their 600th Test on Independence Day adds symbolic weight, but Sri Lanka's decision to open with spin in the ninth over — and the success of that instinct in triggering a wicket — signals this surface will not stay benign for long.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is India's score at lunch on Day 1 of the Galle Test?
India reached 101/1 in 27 overs at the lunch break on Day 1, with Devdutt Padikkal unbeaten on 35 and KL Rahul unbeaten on 32. The pair added an unbroken 54-run second-wicket partnership after Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 32.
How was Yashasvi Jaiswal run out in the Galle Test?
Jaiswal was run out for 32 following a collision with debutant spinner Keshara Nuwantha, who was diving to stop a drive by KL Rahul in the 11th over. Jaiswal lost his balance, recovered, then turned back, leaving both batters at the same end; keeper Niroshan Dickwella removed the bails with Rahul safely grounded.
Who is Keshara Nuwantha and what happened on his Test debut?
Keshara Nuwantha is a Sri Lankan off-spinner making his Test debut in the Galle match. His opening over saw fielder Nishan Madushka struck on the helmet by a Rahul pull shot, forcing Madushka off the field for medical evaluation. Nuwantha also triggered the chaotic run-out that dismissed Jaiswal.
What is the significance of this Test match?
The first Test in Galle is India's 600th Test match in history, played on 15 August — India's Independence Day. It is also the 50th Test staged at the Galle International Stadium, making it a landmark occasion on multiple counts.
How did Devdutt Padikkal perform after coming in to bat?
Padikkal, buoyed by an unbeaten 142 in the warm-up game, immediately took charge of the Sri Lankan spinners. He struck Nuwantha for four in his first over and launched Prabath Jayasuriya over long-on for a six in the 14th over, reaching 35 not out by the lunch interval.
