Overview
- Sonal Dinusha batted through the final day to finish unbeaten on 133 and help Sri Lanka declare at 429/9, denying India a second win in the two‑Test series on Thursday.
- Dinusha scored centuries in both innings and finished the series as the top run‑scorer with roughly 419–420 runs and three hundreds across the two Tests.
- India had earlier declared on 503/9 and enforced the follow‑on after taking a 213‑run lead, but their bowlers tired on a slow SSC surface as part‑time bowlers were used in the search for the last wickets.
- Reactions split between praise and criticism as coach Gautam Gambhir and Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten lauded Dinusha’s temperament while former players Mohammad Kaif and Krishnamachari Srikkanth questioned India’s tactics and captaincy.
- The draw tightened India’s World Test Championship margin and sharpened focus on selection and finishing options ahead of Tests in New Zealand and the five‑Test home series against Australia, with Devdutt Padikkal named Player of the Series and Manav Suthar the leading wicket‑taker.