India captain Shubman Gill backed his follow-on call despite Sri Lanka’s remarkable fightback in Colombo.
India captain Shubman Gill has defended his decision to enforce the follow-on after Sri Lanka secured a hard-fought draw in the second Test in Colombo. The result allowed India to finish the two-match series 1-0 after winning the opening Test.
India declared their first innings at 503/9 before dismissing Sri Lanka for 290. Instead of batting again and setting a target, Gill opted to send the hosts back in, hoping to take advantage of the remaining time and secure a series sweep.
However, Sri Lanka produced a remarkable resistance that frustrated India’s bowlers throughout the final stages of the match. Sonal Dinusha was the key figure, scoring 103 in the first innings before producing an unbeaten 133 in the second innings to help his side survive.
Gill said the decision was influenced by concerns over potential rain and the need to maximise the available overs. He argued that choosing not to enforce the follow-on could also have attracted criticism if bad weather had interrupted the match.
The Indian captain admitted that the draw was disappointing because his side had been targeting victory, particularly with important World Test Championship points at stake. Nevertheless, he described the match as a valuable learning experience in his captaincy journey and praised his players for their effort.
Gill also acknowledged that the Colombo surface became increasingly difficult for bowlers as the Test progressed. According to him, opportunities created earlier in the match could have changed the outcome, but the pitch became slower and offered limited assistance through the final day.
Sri Lanka’s escape was largely built around Dinusha, who showed impressive composure despite playing only his fifth Test. He handled India’s spinners effectively and remained at the crease for long periods across both innings.
Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten praised Dinusha’s performance as one of the country’s outstanding match-saving innings. He also highlighted the contribution of the lower order, with Lahiru Kumara facing around 150 deliveries to help Sri Lanka secure the draw.
The result denied India a clean sweep, while Sri Lanka earned considerable credit for their disciplined batting and resilience under pressure.