Test Cricket in Galle has moved into day 4 with India holding a slight edge. Visitors have a lead of 178 on a wicket which is now helping the spinners and the true nature of this surface is being seen. With weather also expected to be unpredictable in the next two days, it will be interesting to see the tactics employed by India to force a win.

Day three began with the home team bowling out the opposition just four balls into the day for 462. Mohammed Siraj then got the ball rolling with a second ball wicket of Nishan Madushka caught by Devdutt Padikkal in the slips.

Manav Suthar then inflicted more damage when he had the wickets of Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Udara. Indian skipper Shubman Gill then took an amazing catch to get rid of Kamindu Mendis for 14 just when the batter was starting to signal his intent. Ravindra Jadeja’s dismissal of Dhananjaya De Silva had the hosts at 90/5 at one stage.

That’s when Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella joined forces and added 146 runs for the sixth wicket in 213 balls. Dickwella was out for 80 caught by Rishabh Pant to give Prasidh Krishna his only wicket of the innings. Dinusha then went onto complete his ton much to the delight of the home fans.

Jadeja dismissed Nuwantha to claim his 350th Test wicket and also got Sonal out for even 100. The end came when Suthar had Lahiru Kumara stumped by Pant before the day ended due to rain and bad light.

What do India need?

Gautam Gambhir knows that batting long on this wicket is difficult and would want his wards to score somewhere close to 200 and take the lead past 350. The batters will also have to score a brisk pace and make full use of the new ball to pressure on the Lankan side.

Yashasvi Jaiswal will be looked at closely since he can get the ball rolling early in the innings. Sri Lanka could struggle on a crumbling pitch against India’s spin attack that is starting find some bite.

Buckle up, Day Four of the IND vs SL game promises massive entertainment and we could be in for a thrilling ride as the match should start at 9:45 AM providing we don’t have any rains.