Galle: Sai Sudharsan scores fifty as Sri Lanka A break India A’s opening stand

By Rohan Gupta — 25 June 2026 — 4 min read

India A reached 82/1 at lunch on the opening day of their first Unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A in Galle. Opener Sai Sudharsan contributed an unbeaten half-century, but the hosts secured a breakthrough just before the interval.

Captain Dhruv Jurel won the toss and elected to bat first. Sudharsan and Ayush Pandey established a strong foundation with an 82-run opening partnership. Sudharsan’s innings included a composed 53 runs from 77 balls, featuring eight boundaries, after a cautious start.

Pandey played a supporting role, scoring 25 runs from 64 deliveries with three fours. The Indian openers successfully navigated the new ball and gradually increased their scoring rate, frustrating Sri Lanka A’s bowlers for most of the morning session.

The breakthrough for Sri Lanka A came just before lunch when left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera dismissed Pandey in his first over. Pandey attempted an attacking shot but was caught by Ravindu Fernando, ending the opening stand and providing the hosts with a much-needed wicket.

Despite the loss of Pandey, Sudharsan remained at the crease, looking to convert his fifty into a larger score. India A was positioned at 82/1 with 67 overs remaining in the day, aiming to build on their solid start.

The partnership between Sudharsan and Pandey had been resilient, with Pandey’s knock built on discipline and determination. He helped India A negotiate the new ball and establish a strong base after Jurel’s decision to bat first.

Sudharsan reached his half-century with an innings that combined patience and strokeplay. The left-hander continued to anchor the innings after his partner’s departure, remaining unbeaten on 53.

The series provides an opportunity for young Indian talent, including Aquib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar, to showcase their skills for future national team selections. Nabi, a pacer, aims to prove his capabilities in the two-match red-ball series.

Nabi’s performance in the Ranji Trophy had garnered attention, and a strong showing on the pitches of Sri Lanka could make it difficult for selectors to overlook him for the national team. India’s next major Test tour is scheduled for New Zealand, where his bowling style might be beneficial on seam-friendly surfaces.

Gurnoor Brar, who recently made his ODI debut, is also part of the squad. The Test series in Sri Lanka is anticipated to favor spinners, but if Brar performs well, he could retain his position in the senior squad.

Dhruv Jurel, a Test regular, is captaining the India A side in both matches in Galle. The series also offers Sai Sudharsan a chance to accumulate runs, which could boost his confidence before upcoming Tests in August.

Devdutt Padikkal, who did not play in the Afghanistan game, is competing with Sudharsan for the number three batting position. Anshul Kamboj is another key member of the pace attack, alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad and Harsh Dubey, who recently made his ODI debut.

The India A squad for the multi-day matches in Sri Lanka includes Dhruv Jurel (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, N Jagadeesan (Wicketkeeper), Aman Mokhade, Shaik Rasheed, and Zeeshan Ansari.

The opening day’s play saw India A make a cautious start, with the first three overs yielding no runs against a disciplined Sri Lanka A pace attack led by Dulaj Samuditha and Kavindu Pathiratne.

Sudharsan eventually broke the scoring drought with a boundary off Pathiratne in the sixth over, followed by Ayush Pandey striking back-to-back fours off Samuditha in the next over. These boundaries helped shift the momentum for India A, moving them from a watchful beginning to a more comfortable position.

At the 10-over mark, Sudharsan was unbeaten on 16 runs from 34 balls, while Ayush had scored 11 runs from 29 deliveries, as India A reached 31/0. The opening stand continued to frustrate the Sri Lankan attack, which struggled to create significant chances despite regular bowling changes.

Sudharsan moved closer to his half-century, reaching 47 runs from 66 balls at the end of the 20th over, just three runs shy of the milestone. He accelerated after India A crossed the 50-run mark, hitting a boundary off Ravindu Fernando in the 18th over and another off Dulaj Samuditha in the subsequent over.

Ayush Pandey provided strong support, remaining patient with 23 runs from 57 deliveries, and added a boundary off Samuditha, contributing to the solid partnership. The duo’s unbroken stand continued to challenge the Sri Lankan bowlers as lunch approached, with India A comfortably placed at 74/0.

India A reached 50 runs without loss in 15 overs, with Sudharsan and Pandey continuing to frustrate Sri Lanka A. Sudharsan was the more fluent batter, finding boundaries regularly, particularly against Chamika Gunasekara, hitting two consecutive fours in the 11th over and repeating the feat in the 15th over.

Pandey played a patient supporting role, showing discipline in leaving and defending, while rotating the strike. At the end of 15 overs, Sudharsan was unbeaten on 34 runs from 50 balls, and Pandey was batting on 13 runs from 43 deliveries, establishing a solid platform for India A.

The first Unofficial Test between India A and Sri Lanka A began on Thursday in Galle.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter