The first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium ended in a victory for India, but this match was much more than a classic game between bat and ball, it was also a battle against the skies. Throughout the five days, persistent coastal downpours threatened to rob the visitors of a well-deserved result and force a frustrating draw. Yet, while the Indian team executed their plans on the field to wrap up the win, an unsung team off it worked relentlessly to make a decisive result possible, and Rishabh Pant did not forget to appreciate them.
Rishabh Pant extend special praise to the Galle ground staff
Following India’s 165-run win over the Lankans, star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant took to social media to dedicate special appreciation to the ground crew at Galle. Acknowledging that India’s victory would have been impossible without their non-stop efforts during weather interruptions, Pant wrote:
“Thank you to the groundsmen and support staff. The effort and support from you was unbelievable, especially with the rain. Really appreciate it.”
How did the ground staff help India secure enough overs to win?
Rain hung over the match from start to finish. Frequent downpours repeatedly broke up the rhythm of the game, taking away valuable overs and forcing the umpires to constantly adjust session times. Every single shower added tension to the Indian dressing room, as the threat of a frustrating draw loomed large despite their complete control on the field. It forced the team to play at a much faster pace than usual to beat the incoming weather.
The Galle ground staff is renowned worldwide for operating one of the quickest, most organised ground-covering operations in the sport. Whenever sudden rain swept in from the coast, dozens of workers sprinted onto the field in unison, covering not just the 22 yards, but almost the entire outfield within minutes.
Their actions prevented waterlogging, kept the pitch dry, and drastically reduced cleanup time once the sun peeked through. By saving crucial overs across the match, especially heading into the final day, the crew gave the Indian bowlers the daylight they needed to take the remaining wickets and seal the match.
Pant’s appreciation carries even more meaning given how purposefully he batted in the second innings. Fully aware that rain delays could eat away precious overs, Pant launched a counter-attacking blitz, smashing 66 runs off just 53 deliveries. In the first inning, the Indian wicket-keeper batter had scored 39 off 62 balls.
His scoring enabled India to build a match-winning 371-run lead and declare with ample time to spare.
India had enough daylight on Day 5 to finish the job. Sri Lanka started the final morning struggling at 84 for 4. Young Indian spinner Manav Suthar took over from there, grabbing six wickets in the innings to bowl Sri Lanka out for just 206. Suthar finished with an incredible 10-wicket match haul.
