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By Vikram Iyer — 2 July 2026 — 3 min read

In the second unofficial Test against India A in Galle, Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige scored an unbeaten 83 runs, guiding his team to 288 for 5 at stumps on the opening day. Despite efforts from India A bowlers Yash Thakur and Saransh Jain, who each took two wickets, Sri Lanka A maintained control after recovering from an initial steady start.

Arachchige’s innings, which included nine fours and a six from 148 balls, was crucial. He also formed a significant 99-run partnership for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara. Bandara contributed 42 runs before being bowled by off-spinner Jain.

India A Bowlers Make Inroads

Yash Thakur finished the day with figures of 2 for 32 from 14 overs, while Saransh Jain recorded 2 for 77 from 24 overs. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar also claimed one wicket, conceding 49 runs in 15 overs. Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, playing his first red-ball match in six years, went wicketless, giving away 64 runs from his 16 overs.

On a slow Galle pitch, wickets proved challenging to secure. Sri Lanka A openers Pawantha Weerasinghe and Sohan di Livera established a 53-run partnership for the first wicket. Thakur eventually provided India A with a breakthrough when Di Livera edged a ball to Devdutt Padikkal at slip.

Weerasinghe batted through most of the morning session before Brar dismissed him just before lunch, with the left-hander edging behind to captain and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. Following this, Nuwanidu Fernando and Ashen Bandara added 57 runs for the third wicket, further solidifying Sri Lanka A‘s position. Jain broke this stand by having Fernando caught by Padikkal, and Thakur then removed Ashen, who also edged behind to Jurel.

Team Changes and Player Performances

Fast bowler Auqib Nabi, who made his India A debut with a five-wicket haul in the first unofficial Test, was unable to trouble the Sri Lanka A openers with the new ball, finishing with figures of 0 for 50 from 15 overs. Brar bowled with more pace and effectively used the short ball, but secured only one wicket.

Ansari faced difficulties, bowling several loose deliveries that allowed the batters to score freely. His leg-spin did not trouble the Sri Lanka A batters, who capitalised on any missed lengths. The team management, led by Hrishikesh Kanitkar, is reportedly making changes to ensure playing time for every squad member during this exposure tour.

The first four-day unofficial Test concluded in a draw, with opener Sai Sudharsan and captain Dhruv Jurel scoring centuries. Changes were anticipated for the second match, with Gurnoor Brar and Manav Suthar expected to be included in the playing eleven. Brar recently made an impressive debut in an ODI against Afghanistan, and his inclusion was expected to see Yash Thakur sit out. Similarly, Suthar, who made his Test debut against Afghanistan with a 10-wicket haul and had a successful county stint for Warwickshire, was also expected to feature in the spin attack, potentially resting left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey.

Other players who did not feature in the first game, such as opener Aman Mokhade and leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, were also in contention for opportunities. Mokhade could replace Ayush Pandey, who did not score a half-century in either innings of the first match. Ansari’s inclusion would likely be at the expense of off-spinner Saransh Jain. However, Pandey could retain his place if Sai Sudharsan is deemed unfit, as Sudharsan retired hurt in the second innings of the first match and did not participate further.

The current score for Sri Lanka A in their first innings is 288/5, with Sahan Arachchige batting on 83, Nuwanidu Fernando scoring 44, and Anjala Bandara contributing 42.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com