Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha is fast becoming the silver lining in an otherwise stormy series for his team. On a rain-affected third day at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, the 25-year-old left-hander notched up his fourth consecutive fifty, ending unbeaten on 85 off 137 balls, decorated with six boundaries and two sixes. His gritty partnership with Lahiru Kumara (8*) held firm as rain and bad light forced an early close, denying India a potential breakthrough and adding fresh intrigue to the series.
India, meanwhile, remain in pole position after setting Sri Lanka an imposing target in excess of 370, thanks to Rishabh Pant’s quickfire 66 and dominant performances from emerging stars Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel. Only three Indian batters reached double digits in their second innings, but Pant’s counterattack ensured Sri Lanka would face a daunting chase.
Sri Lanka’s Gritty Resistance Led by Dinusha
Dinusha, who has now scored 100, 84, and two more fifties in this series, has single-handedly kept Sri Lanka afloat, even as they fell to 11 consecutive Tests without a win against India, nine of which ended in defeat. He’s now the leading run-scorer of the series with 269 runs at an astonishing average of 134.50. BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla praised Dinusha’s resilience, calling him Sri Lanka’s “top batter” of the series. Alongside Keshara Nuwantha, Dinusha also helped stitch together a stubborn 146-run partnership with Niroshan Dickwella, ensuring Sri Lanka avoided a humiliating follow-on.
But for all Dinusha’s heroics, India’s eyes are fixed firmly on the World Test Championship (WTC) table. Currently fifth with a PCT of 53.33, a victory here would bump them up to fourth, overtaking Bangladesh after their heavy loss to Australia. Anything less—a draw, for instance, if rain refuses to let up—would keep India at fifth with a reduced PCT of 51.52, putting extra pressure on their upcoming tours to New Zealand and their five-Test home series against Australia.
Rain Looms Large Over India’s WTC Ambitions
For now, though, all eyes are on the Colombo skies. With Sri Lanka still trailing and rain mercilessly eating into playing time, India’s WTC campaign hangs in the balance. After this, seven more Tests remain in the WTC cycle, but every win is vital. If Dinusha and the weather continue to frustrate the visitors, this series could well be remembered for what might have been.
