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Galle, Aug 19 (IANS) Having kicked off his Test career at challenging venues like Dharamshala, Perth, and now finally announcing his arrival in the arena in Galle, Player of the Match Devdutt Padikkal said he couldn't have asked for a better start to his international journey after starring in India’s clinical 165-run victory over Sri Lanka here on Wednesday.

Padikkal's marathon 167 in the first innings, coupled with a fluent contribution of 44 in the second essay, set the foundation for India’s dominant win and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series in Galle's landmark 50th Test match. His contributions also made India’s 600th Test match super memorable.

"Yeah, it's been one of those things in my career. I started in Dharamshala (Test debut), then a Test in Perth, and now Galle. But I couldn't have asked for anything better. The game was amazing. I think we played some really good cricket and really happy with the win," Padikkal said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Evaluating the Galle International Stadium pitch, which held up well over all five days despite taking more turn later as the game progressed, Padikkal noted that execution of skill was the deciding factor.

"Definitely, I think the wicket had its natural wear and tear. But I think it was a great Test match wicket. I think all five days it played pretty well. Definitely, it started to turn a lot more from the third day onwards. But I think at the end of the day, it was all about who came out better in terms of their skill sets, and I think we did that well," he added.

With left-handed batters dominating the run charts in the match, Padikkal broke down the technical aspects of batting against spin on a surface that lacked sharp bite. "Not really, but obviously it being very dominated by left-arm spinners bowling a lot, I think that contributes to that.

“Obviously, it was a bit of a slowish wicket. It wasn't providing that much bite off the wicket, so the left-handers were able to negotiate the left-arm spinners much better. I think that was the key," Padikkal concluded. The second Test will start at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on August 23.

--IANS

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Lucknow, Aug 19 (IANS) Defending champions Kashi Rudras produced a strong all-round performance as captain Karan Sharma’s unbeaten 92 helped them defeat Gorakhpur Lions by 15 runs in the UPT20 League at the Ekana Cricket Stadium here.

The victory was Kashi Rudras’ second in three matches and strengthened their title defence, with the two-time champions once again relying on their skipper to deliver under pressure.

After being asked to bat first, Kashi Rudras posted 194/6 in their 20 overs. The innings, however, was in danger of losing momentum after the Rudras slipped to 88/5 by the 10th over.

Karan then took charge and transformed the innings with an outstanding counter-attacking knock. The right-hander remained unbeaten on 92 off only 48 deliveries, striking four boundaries and nine sixes to take Kashi Rudras close to the 200-run mark.

At the top of the order, Sahab Yuvraj Singh provided the initial impetus with a quick 41 off 25 balls. Karan’s late assault then ensured the defending champions finished with a formidable total.

Gorakhpur Lions made a positive start to their chase but struggled to maintain the required scoring rate as Kashi’s bowlers kept taking wickets at crucial stages. The Lions eventually finished on 179/7 in their 20 overs, falling 15 runs short.

Vaibhav Chaudhary, Vijay Yadav and Sunil Kumar picked up two wickets each for Kashi Rudras, while captain Karan also contributed with the ball by removing Prince Yadav at an important stage of the innings.

Karan’s all-round contribution earned him the Player of the Match award. His unbeaten 92 also took his tournament tally to 161 runs from three matches, helping him reclaim the Orange Cap as the leading run-scorer of the competition.

The captain has previously won the Orange Cap twice in the first three seasons and is once again setting the pace with the bat as Kashi Rudras look to retain their crown.

With two wins from three games, the Rudras have made a positive start to their campaign and will now look to carry the momentum forward.

Kashi Rudras will next face Kanpur Superstars on Thursday, August 20, at 7:30 PM IST at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

--IANS

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Galle, Aug 19 (IANS) Indian captain Shubman Gill lavished praise on young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal following their standout performances in India's commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening Test here on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 372, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206 on day five, with Suthar taking 6-55 to finish with a match haul of 10 for 101, securing a 1-0 lead for India in the two-match series. Padikkal, who came in at number three due to B Sai Sudharsan’s right foot injury, also had a great contribution by making a magnificent 167 in first innings and 44 in second essay.

“He (Suthar) has been bowling magnificently, even in the first match that he played in India (vs Afghanistan), and in this match. He looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a very long time. He (Padikkal) was magnificent to watch.

“It's important to get hundreds, but even after getting a hundred, how he carried on and got a big one for us, that's the difference between being in a competitive match and being in a comfortable position. And his knock in the second innings as well, the way he played and the way he dominated the spinners was a treat to watch,” said Gill in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Quizzed on how special this win was, considering it was the 600th Test for India, Gill stated, “It's great. It's really special to win the 600th Test match for your country. Yes, special indeed. A very satisfying win for us. I think we were in a comfortable position.

“But to be able to come here, not sure if the match is going to go because of the weather, we were put under a bit of pressure. But I think the team responded really well. That (playing in the World Test Championship final) is the ultimate goal. Test wins do not come easy and this one is delightful.”

Gill further felt a collapse in the second innings, where India made 193, is not too much concerning in his opinion. “Honestly, not really. We were wanting to get around 400 in the third innings (when) we were batting. The wicket wasn't easy to score runs at will.

“And we were looking to play a little bit more aggressively in the third innings because we wanted that many overs (in the final innings), and we were not sure how many overs we'd be able to bowl on Day 4 and 5. So, that was the thought process and in that process, we lost some early wickets. But I think overall we were still in a comfortable position.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva admitted that losing the toss on a surface that deteriorated drastically on the final two days, combined with India's superlative batting performance, set his side on a downward trajectory.

“I thought from the second day onwards, we were in the game mostly, and I thought boys fought hard even in the fourth inning here. It's not easy, but yeah, I thought it's a good game. It was good to bat on the first three days.

“Obviously, fourth innings won't be easy, everyone knows that, in Galle. But I thought that the starts that Rahul and Padikkal got, they made them big and put the pressure on us from there.”

Asked if toss played a big part in their defeat, de Silva replied in the affirmative. “Maybe, yeah, because they won the toss and got the runs on the board. And, when we're batting, we just lost early wickets, and we were down and under from there.”

--IANS

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Galle, Aug 19 (IANS) The threat of an impending downpour forced India to adopt an aggressive approach and wrap up the game quickly in their favour on day five of the opening Test against Sri Lanka, admitted vice-captain KL Rahul after the visitors got a clinical 165-run victory here at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 372, Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 206 in 77.4 overs, with young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar taking four wickets in ten balls after lunch to trigger a rapid lower-order collapse and end with figures of 6-55. The downpour coming right after the game was over led to the post-game presentation ceremony being shifted indoors.

"Just relieved, honestly! We kept looking at the cloud upstairs and we knew there was one big shower coming, so we didn't want to delay the game. We were trying to get the wickets as quickly as we could.

“Obviously, they had a decent partnership and once we broke that partnership, we felt like we were right back in the game and we could, once we got into their tail, we knew that we could get the wickets early. But yeah, we had one eye on the clouds," Rahul said to broadcasters.

He also praised the Galle International Stadium ground staff for making a pitch which provided a balanced contest between bat and ball over all five days. "It wasn't (as comfortable as it was). I think it was a great Test match. I think the wicket played really well throughout the five days.

“There was something in it for spinners obviously, but the batters who applied themselves as well could get some runs. And we've seen Sonal (Dinusha) from the Sri Lankan team. Both the innings, getting a hundred and an 80, batted beautifully, had a very clear game plan to sweep the spinners and use his feet.

“So I think people who are really committed to their game plan could score runs as well. So that's what you want to see in Test matches, where fast bowlers picked wickets too, even for their team and for our team. So I think all in all, it was a great wicket, great Test match," he added.

During the stubborn alliance between Sonal Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha, Rahul disclosed India kept faith in their tactical discipline with the new ball, even as the possibility of striking with the second new ball was huge.

"We knew that the new ball was going to come and if we couldn't get wickets, the new ball would be our next best chance. But throughout the day, our mindset obviously was to keep putting the ball in the right areas. We knew there was a little bit of help from the wicket.

“Obviously, the opposition also can play well. There are batters who will dig deep and get a partnership. So we knew that would happen. So we just had to be patient and just keep putting the ball in the areas, and the wicket, like I said, there was some help in it. And once we got a wicket or once we broke a partnership, then we knew we could get two or three together," Rahul explained.

Quizzed on why several batters across both teams didn’t get big scores, Rahul noted that clarity of thought during the initial period of an innings was the deciding factor on a surface offering immediate assistance to bowlers.

"It was a really good Test match wicket to play in. Batters who really committed to their plans or had a plan as to how they're going to play spin or fast bowling stood a chance. I honestly feel someone who walked in there thinking, I'll see what to do once I get there. There are batters who kind of struggled because there was a little bit of help straightaway.

“And the batters who have gotten out are the guys who got out in the first 15-20 balls. That tells you the whole story. So if you could get through that 20 balls, 25 balls and commit to a plan, then you were okay," he concluded.

--IANS

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Galle, Aug 19 (IANS) Powered by a scintillating spell of 6-55 from young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, India sealed a commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka on day five of the opening Test at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.

In only his second Test appearance, Suthar ripped through the opposition’s batting order in the second innings to finish with match figures of 10-101, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206 in 77.4 overs, despite stiff resistance from Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha, in what was also Galle’s landmark 50th Test match.

The emphatic win coming on a sluggish, low-bounce pitch gave India an early 1-0 lead in the two-match series and get 12 vital World Test Championship (WTC) points in what was their milestone 600th Test match, as Suthar ensured his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests and his first-ever ten-for had rendered the second new ball completely redundant.

In the morning, resuming on a pitch offering variable bounce, de Silva and Dinusha fought valiantly through the opening 90 minutes. After bringing up the fifty of their partnership, de Silva got his fifty by cutting Ravindra Jadeja through point for four, while Dinusha launched Kuldeep Yadav over deep midwicket for a maximum to reach his half-century in style.

However, India broke the frustrating 95-run stand off 202 through Ravindra Jadeja, who extracted sharp turn and bounce on a fuller ball angled at stumps to catch de Silva’s top edge on an attempted sweep and gave a comfortable catch to Manav Suthar at short fine leg to fall for 59.

One brought two scalps for India as Prasidh Krishna, operating with sustained heat, removed wicketkeeper-batter Dickwella for 10. Dickwella never looked comfortable at the crease and even had a quirky exchange with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was stationed at square leg.

On the last ball of the 60th over, Dickwella shuffled across his stumps to a back-of-a-length delivery outside the leg stump, but could only give a feather edge off Krishna behind to Rishabh Pant.

Keshara Nuwantha then joined a resolute Dinusha to safely navigate the remaining overs before the lunch break arrived. Resuming after lunch, Dinusha, who batted flawlessly after scoring a century in the first innings, advanced to 84 and appeared on course for getting his second hundred of the game.

But a crafty and effective Suthar turned the match decisively in India's favour with a devastating triple-wicket maiden in the 76th over. Suthar broke the partnership when he got an extra bit of bounce off a flighted ball outside leg-stump and forced Dinusha to glove to Dhruv Jurel at leg gully.

On the very next delivery, Suthar castled Prabath Jayasuriya for a golden duck with a in-drifter that gripped off the pitch to clip the top of off stump. Lahiru Kumara safely negotiated the hat-trick ball, but Suthar switched to round the wicket two balls later to find his outside edge that was caught behind by Rishabh Pant, as he completed his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests.

Ravindra Jadeja and India's slip cordon maintained high pressure from the other end, though Sri Lanka's last pair of Nuwantha and Asitha Fernando briefly delayed the inevitable. Nuwantha showed defiance by paddle-sweeping Suthar for a boundary to take Sri Lanka past the 200-run mark.

But Suthar finished off the game in the 78th over when his quicker arm ball skidded off the pitch and breached Nuwantha's defence to castle him for 20 and spark jubilant scenes in the Indian dressing room.

India’s victory was also anchored by Devdutt Padikkal's magnificent first-innings knock of 167, which gave India a massive 178-run cushion. Rishabh Pant’s calculative 66 in second innings further allowed Suthar and the Indian bowling attack to exploit the turning surface and seal a comprehensive triumph.

Brief scores: India 462 and 193 beat Sri Lanka 284 and 206 in 77.4 overs (Sonal Dinusha 84, Dhananjaya de Silva 59; Manav Suthar 6-55, Prasidh Krishna 2-16) by 165 runs

--IANS

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Galle, Aug 19 (IANS) Riding on a scintillating spell of 6-55 from young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, India wrapped up a dominant 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.

Playing in just his second Test, Suthar claimed six scalps in the second innings on day five to finish with a match haul of 10-101, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206 in 77.4 overs in Galle’s 50th Test match. The resounding result has also helped India take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and secure 12 crucial World Test Championship points in what was also their milestone 600th Test match.

Resuming after lunch on day five, Sri Lanka looked to build on the stubborn resistance shown by Sonal Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha. Dinusha, who batted flawlessly after scoring a century in the first innings, advanced to 84 and appeared on course for getting his second hundred of the game.

But a crafty and effective Suthar turned the match decisively in India's favour with a devastating triple-wicket maiden in the 76th over. Suthar broke the partnership when he got an extra bit of bounce off a flighted ball outside leg-stump and forced Dinusha to glove to Dhruv Jurel at leg gully.

On the very next delivery, Suthar castled Prabath Jayasuriya for a golden duck with a in-drifter that gripped off the pitch to clip the top of the off stump. Lahiru Kumara safely negotiated the hat-trick ball, but Suthar switched to round the wicket two balls later to find his outside edge that was caught behind by Rishabh Pant, as he completed his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests.

Ravindra Jadeja and India's slip cordon maintained high pressure from the other end, though Sri Lanka's last pair of Nuwantha and Asitha Fernando briefly delayed the inevitable. Nuwantha showed defiance by paddle-sweeping Suthar for a boundary to take Sri Lanka past the 200-run mark.

But Suthar finished off the game in the 78th over when his quicker arm ball skidded off the pitch and breached Nuwantha's defence to castle him for 20 and spark jubilant scenes in the Indian dressing room.

India’s victory was also anchored by Devdutt Padikkal's magnificent first-innings knock of 167, which gave India a massive 178-run cushion. Rishabh Pant’s calculative knock of 66 in the second innings further allowed Suthar and the Indian bowling attack to exploit the turning surface and seal a comprehensive triumph.

Brief scores: India 462 and 193 beat Sri Lanka 284 and 206 in 77.4 overs (Sonal Dinusha 84, Dhananjaya de Silva 59; Manav Suthar 6-55, Prasidh Krishna 2-16) by 165 runs

--IANS

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Cuttack, Aug 19 (IANS) Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Secretary Sanjay Behera has hailed the the Odisha T20 League as the competitive platform for the young players where they learn from experienced cricketers and gain confidence for furture.

Odisha T20 League is all set to kickstart at the iconic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack that has hosted international matches in the past, from September 18. The season will celebrate Odisha's rich regional cricketing culture, with franchises representing different parts of the state, including Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Kandujhar, Puri, Rourkela and Sambalpur.

The league is expected to bring alive regional rivalries, adding an extra layer of excitement for players and fans alike.

"The Odisha T20 League is an important step towards strengthening the cricketing structure in the state. It will give our young players a competitive platform where they can test themselves, learn from experienced cricketers and gain the confidence needed to take the next step in their careers," Behera said.

"With teams representing different parts of Odisha, the league will also help bring the state’s diverse cricketing talent together. We are looking forward to some exciting contests and strong performances from the players. Our focus will be on providing the teams with the right facilities and creating a professional environment throughout the tournament," he added.

He further said that the Barabati Stadium has had a strong connection with cricket lovers in the state and the support from the fans will be very important. “The support of the fans will be very important in making this season special. Barabati Stadium has always had a strong connection with cricket lovers in Odisha, and we hope the league gives them plenty of reasons to celebrate. We wish all the teams and players the very best and look forward to a successful and entertaining season."

With a mix of experienced domestic players and talented youngsters, the Odisha T20 League is expected to help strengthen cricket in the state and give young players more opportunities.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) PV Sindhu has revealed how Virat Kohli’s simple advice during one of the toughest phases of her career helped change her perspective, with the Indian badminton star saying the Indian cricketer reminded her of the importance of simply turning up and trusting her preparation.

Sindhu, who is currently competing at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, recalled her conversation with Kohli while speaking on the RCB podcast. The two-time Olympic medallist said she had approached Kohli at a time when she felt that 'nothing is happening ', but his response was straightforward.

“He is like my brother, I must say, because I remember when I was at my lowest. I think I met him and I said, you know, nothing is happening. He just said, Just show up, it is okay, just go out there and just show up,” Sindhu said.

The advice struck a chord with Sindhu, who said Kohli encouraged her to focus on competing, rather than being consumed by the results.

“He asked me to show up, anywhere and for anything, and just play my game. What would happen? You are not going to lose anything; you know what you are, how you have trained, and show the world who you are. So I think it hit me, and I think that conversation completely changed my perspective,” she added.

The 31-year-old also revealed that she remains in touch with Kohli and shares her achievements with him.

“Whenever I win, I just share my happiness, saying that you know I have won this or that, and recently I met him, so it is always so good to meet, you know, a person who has achieved so much and to get a few of those inputs from him,” Sindhu said.

Reflecting on Kohli’s approach to sport, Sindhu said she continues to admire the way he carries himself and performs under pressure.

“The way he thinks whenever he goes out there, looking at him how he shows up and how he plays and what he is, I think hats off to him for whatever he has done,” she added.

Sindhu made a confident start to her 2026 BWF World Championships campaign at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

The former world champion defeated Ireland’s Sophia Noble 21-7, 21-11 in just 29 minutes in her opening women’s singles match to progress to the Round of 32.

--IANS

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Dar es Salaam, Aug 19 (IANS) Italy strengthened their case for a place in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 after finishing top of Challenge League B with a convincing eight-wicket victory over Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

Italy entered the final matchday with their fate in their own hands and delivered a composed performance to finish their 15-match campaign as league leaders. Their triumph was further confirmed after Uganda suffered a final-over defeat to Bahrain, leaving Italy four points clear at the top.

The result also moved Italy a step closer to their World Cup dream. Along with Uganda, they have qualified for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off, which will determine four places in the main World Cup Qualifier.

The eight-team Qualifier Play-off will feature the top two teams from Challenge League A, the bottom four sides from Cricket World Cup League 2, Italy, and Uganda.

Italy’s progress has been particularly impressive after they began the final leg of the competition behind Uganda with five matchdays remaining. A victory over Uganda opened the door for a late surge, while Uganda’s subsequent loss to Hong Kong further boosted Italy’s chances.

The Italians made the most of the opportunity, finishing the final leg unbeaten before producing another strong display against Tanzania.

Batting first after losing the toss, Tanzania made a promising start and reached 87/1 inside 15 overs. However, Italy’s spinners turned the contest around as Rakibul Hasan, Akash Waduwalage and Crishan Kalugamage combined to claim all 10 wickets for just 87 runs.

Waduwalage returned impressive figures of 5/21 and dismissed Tanzania’s top scorer Dhrumit Mehta for 39, while Kalugamage claimed 3/28 as the hosts were bowled out for 142.

Italy then chased down the modest target in only 26 overs, with brothers Justin and AJ Mosca putting the result beyond doubt through a 121-run partnership.

Justin was dismissed for 52, but AJ remained unbeaten on 75 off 71 balls. Captain Harry Manenti finished the chase with an unbeaten eight.

Italy’s qualification for the Play-off represents another significant step in their pursuit of a maiden appearance at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The Play-off will carry ODI status, meaning Italy and Uganda will have the opportunity to play official One-Day Internationals.

The final line-up of the Qualifier Play-off will be confirmed after the remaining Challenge League and League 2 matches are completed.

In League 2, Scotland, USA and Netherlands have already secured top-four finishes and advanced directly to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, while Namibia, Canada, Nepal and UAE currently occupy the bottom four positions.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s BWF World Championships campaign got underway without the fifth seeds having to step onto court, after Scotland’s Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle withdrew from their opening-round fixture at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.

The Indian duo, who had been handed a first-round bye, were due to make their first appearance at the home World Championships against the Scottish pair on Tuesday in what would have been India’s last contest of the day. Their opponents’ withdrawal, however, gave the Asian Games champions a walkover and a place in the next round.

The advancement gives Satwik and Chirag additional time to prepare for what could be a considerably more demanding test. They are in line to face Indonesia’s 12th-seeded Raymond Indra and Nicolas Joaquin in the next round.

The Indian pair arrive at the tournament with confidence, having claimed the Singapore Open title in May. Playing in front of a home crowd, they will also have their sights set on extending an already significant World Championships record.

Satwik and Chirag have twice stood on the podium at the global showpiece, collecting bronze medals in 2022 and 2025. With another podium finish in New Delhi, Satwik and Chirag could move another step closer to become only Indian men’s doubles combination to have won multiple World Championships medals.

Only two Indian players have accumulated more medals at the event P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal.

For now, their campaign has begun in unusual fashion, a place in the next round secured before a single rally was played.

--IANS

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