India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised his team’s character and resilience following a 1‑0 Test series victory over Sri Lanka. Shubman Gill’s side dominated the opening match in Galle with a 165‑run win, but Sri Lanka mounted a stubborn comeback at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.
Even after enforcing the follow‑on, India were unable to secure a second victory as Sri Lanka resisted for a draw. Sonal Dinusha starred for the hosts, recording his second century of the match and remaining unbeaten, steering Sri Lanka to avoid defeat.
Gautam Gambhir praises India’s mental resilience
After the second Test concluded, Gambhir used social media to commend his players for demonstrating the character needed to excel in Test cricket. He also hailed Sonal Dinusha for his outstanding batting performance.
“Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that’s shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance!”
Gambhir’s remarks followed a series where India asserted dominance at key stages. The visitors delivered a strong showing in Galle to take a 1‑0 lead, yet Sri Lanka refused to yield in the second Test even when pressured heavily.
Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that’s shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance! pic.twitter.com/zu8pNKt5pU
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 28, 2026
Sonal Dinusha stars as Sri Lanka force a draw
Dinusha anchored Sri Lanka’s fight in Colombo. After posting 103 in the first innings, he amassed an unbeaten 133 from 264 deliveries, hitting eight fours and two sixes in the second innings. His second‑innings century, coming after Sri Lanka had to follow on, makes him just the third player in Test history to score centuries in both innings after a follow‑on.
Vijay Hazare and Andy Flower are the only other batsmen to have accomplished this rare double‑century after a follow‑on. Dinusha concluded the series as Sri Lanka’s top run‑scorer with 420 runs from four innings. His consistent contributions were pivotal in preventing a series sweep, even as India secured a 1‑0 series win on their return home.
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