IND vs SL 1st Test Highlights Day 4: The India national cricket team moved within touching distance of a massive victory in the first Test after a dominant fourth day in Galle, with Rishabh Pant’s attacking 66 followed by a disciplined display from the bowlers, leaving the Sri Lanka national cricket team four wickets down at stumps. The hosts, chasing 372 for victory, finished the day on 84/4 and still require 288 runs on the final day.
Pant, who has often been India’s X-factor in Test cricket, once again produced a crucial innings when his team needed it most. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 66 off 53 balls and, in the process, became the first Indian and the fastest batter in Test history to hit 100 sixes. He reached the landmark with a six off Lahiru Kumara before eventually edging the same bowler to Niroshan Dickwella.
A target of 372 runs set for Sri Lanka!
India 193 all out (Pant 66, Padikkal 44 | Asitha 4/31, Prabath 3/43).
Let’s hunt this target down! 💪#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/V0X637VrIv
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) August 18, 2026
Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal Give India Crucial Runs
India had endured a shaky start to their second innings, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening over before KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal steadied the innings. Rahul made 35, while Padikkal followed his first-innings 167 with a valuable 44.
Pant then took the attack to Sri Lanka, adding 54 with Ravindra Jadeja as India reached 193 and set the hosts a challenging target. Sri Lanka’s bowlers had enjoyed periods of control, but India’s lower order ensured the visitors finished with a lead that could prove decisive.
Stumps on Day 4 in Galle! 🏟️
Sri Lanka 84/4 in the 2nd innings#TeamIndia 6⃣ wickets away from victory in the opening #SLvIND Test.
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/M9LVyCAp8y pic.twitter.com/Fhu9YGYeC1
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 18, 2026
India Bowlers Leave Sri Lanka Reeling in Fourth Innings
Sri Lanka’s chase never got going after a brief rain interruption. Mohammed Siraj removed Nishan Fernando, while Prasidh Krishna dismissed Kamindu Mendis after setting up the left-hander with a series of deliveries.
Manav Suthar was the other major contributor, dismissing Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Lahiru Udara. Sooriyabandara had replaced Dinesh Chandimal, who suffered a shoulder and head impact while fielding earlier in the day and later failed a concussion test despite clearing his injury scan.
At stumps, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva was unbeaten on 31 alongside Sonal Dinusha on 25. With the highest successful Test chase at Galle standing at 344, Sri Lanka face a huge challenge on the final day.
