India Reach 88/2 at Lunch After Openers Fall in Colombo Test

India lose both openers but finish the first session at 88/2, with Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal steady at the crease.

Colombo, August 23, 2026; India reached 88/2 at lunch on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka after losing both their opening batters during an encouraging first session for the hosts.

India captain Shubman Gill was unbeaten on 13, while Devdutt Padikkal was not out on 11 as the pair ensured that Sri Lanka could not build further momentum after claiming two early breakthroughs.

India began confidently after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Yashasvi Jaiswal immediately put pressure on the Sri Lankan pace attack, finding the boundary repeatedly against Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara. KL Rahul, meanwhile, settled in cautiously before opening his account with a well-timed cover drive.

The opening partnership looked increasingly comfortable before Lahiru Kumara provided Sri Lanka with their first breakthrough. Rahul attempted to accelerate but edged the pacer’s delivery through to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella. He departed for 18 from 33 deliveries, including two fours and a six, leaving India at 37/1.

Jaiswal continued attacking and helped India cross the 50-run mark in the 16th over. The left-hander then took three boundaries from four balls against Fernando, but the bowler responded strongly by hitting the stumps in the same over.

Jaiswal’s aggressive innings ended at 45 off 53 balls, with nine fours, reducing India to 66/2 after 17 overs.

Gill and Padikkal subsequently played out the remaining overs of the session with composure, preventing Sri Lanka from adding another wicket before lunch.

For India, the match also marked a Test debut for Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain. Kuldeep Yadav was unavailable for the contest after falling ill with a viral infection.

India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Sri Lanka Playing XI: Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.