India and Sri Lanka played out a nail-biting draw in the second and final Test at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo Thursday, August 27, to end the two-match series with India winning 1-0. India had a 1-0 lead in the second Test after their 165-run victory in the first Test in Galle. India dominated most of the Colombo match, but Sri Lanka produced a strong cricket performance in their second innings.
The second Test saw India on 503/9 declared in their first innings. Devdutt Padikkal provided another strong performance with the bat and scored a solid century as India went on to build a high total. Dhruv Jurel also made a hundred to put the visitors in a strong position before declaring their innings. Padikkal's continued excellence was one of the most important aspects of India's success in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's first innings ended at 290, leaving India with a substantial 213-run lead. The young all-rounder Sonal Dinusha was the one who stood out for the hosts with 103, his century keeping Sri Lanka from an even heavier deficit. So India did the follow-on, putting Sri Lanka under enormous pressure and now the team is looking very good to complete a series sweep.
But Sri Lanka’s second innings took the game on. The hosts remained resolute and refused to let India end the match. Sri Lankan middle-order and lower order worked together to frustrate the Indian bowling attack and the innings reached 429/9 declared and there was not enough time for India to chase a target and win. The match ended in a draw with both teams sharing the points from the Test.
Sonal Dinusha was once again at the heart of Sri Lanka’s fight back. After 103 in the first innings, he made another outstanding century in the second innings and was the key to the Sri Lankan team’s successful attempt to save the Test. His performance in the series was very good and he scored three centuries in the four innings of the two-Test series. Sri Lanka needed him most in Colombo where an Indian side had taken the lead after the first innings.
Dinusha’s performance earned him the Player of the Match in the second Test. His twin centuries were an appropriate reward for an innings that ultimately denied India the chance to complete a 2-0 series sweep. The Sri Lankan young man stood up well under pressure and was one of the biggest positive aspects seen from the hosts.
Despite the drawn second Test, Devdutt Padikkal was named Player of the Series. The Indian batter had an outstanding campaign in the side when he came in as a replacement at No. 3. He had already made an impact in the first Test with 167 in India’s first innings and 44 in the second and was named Player of the Match in Galle.
Padikkal repeated that feat in Colombo by making 117 in India’s first innings. His back-to-back hundreds made him one of the best batters of the series and cemented India’s batting unit at a crucial point. His consistent performance in both Tests helped him win the Player of the Series.
India's series victory also signals a significant achievement in the current World Test Championship cycle. The visitors won the opening Test by 165 runs and then controlled the bulk of the second match, but Sri Lanka did manage to draw it with India. India won 1-0 in this series and Sri Lanka will have much confidence from their fight back in Colombo.
The final scorecard summed up the contest: India 503/9 declared; Sri Lanka 290 and 429/9 declared. India had enough control to enforce the follow-on, but Sri Lanka’s remarkable second-innings resistance prevented the visitors from turning their advantage into another Test victory.
#INDvsSL | India-Sri Lanka second Test ends in draw; India clinch series 1-0
— DD News (@DDNewslive) August 27, 2026
Sonal Dinusha is the Player of the Match.
Devdutt Padikkal is the Player of the Series.
Match Summary:
IND 503/9d
SL 290 &429/9df/o#TestCricket #WTC2026 pic.twitter.com/iPDIM0Rs6N
The series also produced some encouraging performances from individual players. Padikkal’s batting was one such great positive for India and Sonal Dinusha was also a great prospect for Sri Lanka. The fact that he scored three centuries in the series as well and kept a good mental strength as a result of his skills is an example for Sri Lanka as well. For Sri Lanka, the drawn Test will be remembered as a very difficult and hard-fought escape after India had already established itself as a strong side.
India, in the end, takes the victory in Sri Lanka 1-0 in the series and the host country can celebrate denying their opponents a clean sweep. The Colombo Test may have yielded no winner but it was an excellent finish with Dinusha’s brilliant batting and Padikkal's consistency throughout the series.
