By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
India made a winning start to their World Test Championship campaign, defeating Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a daunting target of 372, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206 in their second innings, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar producing a match-winning performance claiming six wickets for 55 runs in the second innings and finishing with impressive 10 wickets haul. He took four wickets in the first innings.
Sri Lanka’s resistance on the final day briefly raised hopes of an unlikely fightback, but India’s spinners eventually broke through. Ravindra Jadeja also played a key role in the victory, while India’s disciplined bowling attack kept the hosts under sustained pressure.
India had earlier piled up 460 for nine declared, with Devdutt Padikkal leading the way with a maiden Test century of 167. KL Rahul contributed 82, while Rishabh Pant provided valuable runs in the middle order.
The victory is particularly significant for India in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, strengthening their position in the race for a place in the final.
For Suthar, the match turned into a dream introduction to Test cricket. After taking four wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings, the Rajasthan left-arm spinner completed his 10-wicket haul with six more in the second innings, emerging as the chief architect of India’s 165-run victory.
The result gives India a 1-0 lead in the series and provides a major boost to their WTC campaign as they look to build momentum in the new cycle.