Colombo, August 26: India were left frustrated at the end of the fourth day of the second Test against Sri Lanka after a day that seemed to move through three distinct phases — Sri Lanka's resistance, India's tightening grip and then rain bringing the contest to an early halt.
India had entered the day with a clear objective after enforcing the follow-on: take the remaining Sri Lankan wickets quickly, chase whatever target was set and complete a 2-0 series sweep. Instead, Sri Lanka produced another stubborn passage of batting before India's bowlers finally regained control in the final session. Persistent rain then prevented India from completing the job.
At stumps, Sri Lanka were 229 for 6, leaving India needing four wickets to end the innings before beginning what should be a relatively straightforward chase. But with the weather repeatedly disrupting the Test, the biggest opponent for India may now be time rather than Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka refuse to surrender
The first two sessions belonged largely to Sri Lanka.
India's decision to enforce the follow-on was logical. Having already established a commanding position with a first-innings score of 503 for 9 declared, the visitors had an opportunity to keep Sri Lanka under sustained pressure and finish the Test inside five days.
But Sri Lanka's batters refused to collapse.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara played one of the most important innings of the day, scoring 92, while Kamindu Mendis contributed a composed 50. Their partnership forced India to work much harder than expected and gave Sri Lanka hope of extending the match into the final day.
The pair showed that the pitch was not completely unplayable and that disciplined batting could still frustrate India's attack.
Their approach was particularly effective against India's spinners, who struggled to maintain the kind of control they had displayed earlier in the series.
India's defensive approach raises questions
India's bowling during the opening two sessions lacked the aggression expected from a team trying to finish a Test.
The field settings were notably defensive, with several boundary riders protecting against scoring shots and reverse sweeps. That allowed Sri Lanka's batters to collect relatively easy singles rather than being forced to take risks.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel had expected greater bravery from the attack, but the early part of the day did not consistently produce the pressure required to force mistakes.
Spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, however, explained that the defensive fields were part of a deliberate strategy to “hold” Sri Lanka rather than immediately attack every ball.
That approach worked only to a point.
Holding a batting side under control can be useful in Test cricket, particularly when wickets are difficult to obtain. But when India needed to take four wickets quickly, allowing Sri Lanka to keep rotating the strike also reduced the urgency of the situation.
Suthar struggles before finding the breakthrough
Manav Suthar, who had been India's standout bowler in the first Test, endured a difficult beginning.
His first eight overs were expensive, with Sri Lanka scoring at more than six runs per over against him. Pasindu and Mendis repeatedly disrupted his rhythm by using their feet, rotating the strike and refusing to allow the spinner to settle.
The situation also encouraged India captain Shubman Gill to adopt more defensive fields.
But Suthar eventually found the breakthrough India needed.
A tactical change involving Rishabh Pant moving closer to the stumps helped restrict Pasindu's movement. The field placement appeared to make the young Sri Lankan batter more uncertain, and Suthar capitalised when Pasindu pushed at a delivery outside off stump and was caught out of his crease. Pant completed the dismissal.
It was Suthar's second wicket in two overs and changed the mood of the Indian camp.
India finally apply the choke
Once Pasindu was dismissed, Sri Lanka's momentum began to disappear.
The wicket of Niroshan Dickwella, claimed by Saransh Jain, followed quickly and suddenly India were threatening to wrap up the innings.
There was even a remarkable passage of 36 deliveries without a single run, showing how dramatically the pressure had shifted.
This was the “choke” India had been searching for throughout the day.
After allowing Sri Lanka to bat freely for much of the first two sessions, India's bowlers finally created the sustained pressure required in Test cricket. Dot balls accumulated, batters became increasingly uncertain and the scoring rate fell sharply.
Had the weather remained clear, Sri Lanka could have faced a difficult final stretch.
Rain once again changes the contest
But the weather intervened.
Relentless rain forced an early end to play, depriving India of the opportunity to attack the Sri Lankan lower order while the pressure was at its highest.
The interruption was particularly frustrating because India had finally established the momentum needed to finish the innings.
Instead of continuing the assault, the Indian players were forced off the field.
The result is that the contest has been pushed into the fifth day, with India still needing four wickets before they can begin their chase.
Sonal Dinusha becomes the key wicket
With Sri Lanka at 229 for 6, Sonal Dinusha remains one of the principal obstacles between India and victory.
His presence means Sri Lanka still have an opportunity to extend their lead and make India's chase more complicated.
For India, the ideal scenario on Day 5 is obvious: remove Dinusha and the remaining tail quickly, restrict the target and complete the chase before rain can again become a decisive factor.
But after four days of weather interruptions, planning around a full day's play is difficult.
Why India enforced the follow-on
The decision to enforce the follow-on was effectively unanimous within the Indian camp.
According to Bahutule, the team had been monitoring the weather since rain had already affected the region, and the possibility of losing playing time made it important to take the most direct route towards victory.
By sending Sri Lanka back to bat immediately, India gained the maximum possible number of opportunities to take 20 wickets in the match.
The calculation was simple: if rain was going to reduce available time, India needed to keep Sri Lanka under pressure rather than spend another innings batting.
The strategy remains sound.
The frustration is that Sri Lanka's resistance and the weather have combined to prevent India from converting that advantage into victory yet.
India still hold the advantage
Despite the frustrating finish, India remain firmly in control.
Their 503/9 declared first innings gave them a huge advantage, while Sri Lanka's first innings ended at 290. Sri Lanka's second innings has reached 229 for 6, but they are still behind India's overall position and must first complete their innings before India can chase.
India's bowlers also demonstrated in the final session that they can create pressure when they attack with greater intent.
The bigger concern is therefore not whether India are capable of taking the remaining wickets, but whether they will have enough time to do so and complete the chase.
Day 5 could become a race against time
The fifth day now carries enormous importance.
India need four wickets. Sri Lanka need to extend their lead as much as possible. And both sides will have one eye on the sky.
If India strike early, the lower order could disappear quickly and the visitors could have sufficient time to chase the target.
If Sri Lanka's remaining batters survive and add another substantial partnership, the pressure could shift.
And if rain returns, the match could become another example of how weather can frustrate a dominant side.
A Test that refuses to follow the script
India have controlled much of the series and remain on course for a clean sweep, but the second Test has repeatedly refused to follow the expected script.
Day 4 was a perfect example.
Sri Lanka first held India at bay. India then choked the scoring and picked up three late wickets. Finally, rain frustrated both sides, ending play just as the visitors appeared ready to take control.
India's task is now straightforward but time-sensitive: finish Sri Lanka's innings, chase the remaining runs and hope the Colombo weather stays away.
The prize is a 2-0 series victory, but after four days of clouds, interruptions and stubborn resistance, India know better than anyone that the final step may prove the most difficult one yet.
Brief scores: India 503/9 declared; Sri Lanka 290 & 229/6. Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu Mendis 50; Manav Suthar 2/81, Prasidh Krishna 1/31.
Also Read: Nepal Flood Toll Hits 95 as India Sends 10 Tonnes