Sonal Dinusha almost single-handedly denied India a much-needed win in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which ended in a draw on Thursday, August 27. The left-handed all-rounder, who bats at No. 6, produced a series of extraordinary innings that frustrated India across five days and kept Sri Lanka in the contest throughout.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir took to X after the match to praise his team’s character, patience, and mental toughness, while also acknowledging Dinusha’s contribution across the series. The draw meant India could not secure the full 12 World Test Championship points from the Colombo Test, a result that would have benefited them considerably in the WTC standings. India had already won the first Test at Galle International Stadium from August 15 to 19, 2026, and claimed the two-match series 1-0.
Dinusha’s record-breaking series numbers
Dinusha finished the series with 420 runs across four innings, including three centuries. His scores read 100 and 84 at Galle, followed by 103 in the first innings of the Colombo Test and a further century in the second innings on Day 5. He became the first Sri Lankan to score two centuries in the same Test match against India while batting at No. 6 or lower.
India had enforced the follow-on after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 290 in their first innings in Colombo. Sri Lanka resumed Day 5 at 229 for 6 in their second innings, and Dinusha combined with Keshara Nuwantha to add 111 runs for the seventh wicket. By Tea on Day 5, Sri Lanka had reached 383 for 8, leading India by 170 runs, and the match ended in a draw shortly after.
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How the Colombo Test unfolded
Dinusha’s series tally placed him in notable company in the record books. He became the third Sri Lankan to score three centuries in a two-match Test series and joined Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Angelo Mathews as Sri Lankans to score centuries in consecutive Tests against India. He also became only the third batter to score 80 or more in each of his first three Test innings against India, after Everton Weekes and Zaheer Abbas, with Abbas having achieved the feat 48 years prior.
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