Gautam Gambhir praises Team India's grit in Sri Lanka Test series win

Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill (File pic)

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised the Shubman Gill-led squad after their 1-0 Test series triumph against Sri Lanka, highlighting the discipline and mental grit his players showed throughout the campaign.

Although India were denied a clean sweep after the second Test in Colombo ended in a draw despite enforcing the follow-on, Gambhir was happy with the team's overall performance. Sri Lanka's heroic resistance was anchored by Sonal Dinusha, who struck centuries in both innings to rescue the host nation from defeat.

Taking to social media following the series victory, Gambhir complimented India's resolve while offering high praise for Dinusha's exceptional individual effort.

"Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that's shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance," Gambhir wrote in an Instagram post.

India complete series win despite draw in Colombo

In the final match in Colombo, India chose to bat first and posted a massive score of 503/9 before declaring. Devdutt Padikkal anchored the effort with 117 off 193 balls featuring 12 boundaries, while Dhruv Jurel contributed an unbeaten 115 off 177 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Dynamic half-centuries from Rishabh Pant, who made 63 off 89 balls, and captain Shubman Gill, who scored 50 off 108 balls, added to the total, while Asitha Fernando picked up four wickets for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka were all out for 290 in their first innings, with Dinusha scoring 103 off 162 balls and Pasindu Sooriyabandara adding 80. Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar took three wickets each for India. After India enforced the follow-on, Sri Lanka stumbled to 218/6 before Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha, who made 46 off 150 balls, mounted a 112-run partnership. Dinusha completed his third century of the series with an unbeaten 133 off 264 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to 429/9 at stumps to secure a draw.

India secured the two-match series victory thanks to their convincing 165-run win in the opening Test at Galle. That initial victory was built on Devdutt Padikkal's first-innings 167 and spinner Manav Suthar's maiden ten-wicket match haul.

(With inputs from Agencies)