New Delhi:India captain Shubman Gill described the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka as “very frustrating” after his team failed to complete a victory despite putting the hosts under sustained pressure.
India had Sri Lanka at 229 for six at the end of the fourth day and appeared well placed to force a result. However, Sonal Dinusha produced a remarkable unbeaten 133 on the final day as Sri Lanka successfully batted through the entire fifth day to secure a draw at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Gill acknowledged that the pitch became increasingly slow as the match progressed, making it difficult for India’s bowlers to create decisive breakthroughs. He also pointed to Sri Lanka’s highly defensive batting approach, which reduced the number of scoring opportunities and made it harder for the Indian attack to force mistakes.
Despite the disappointing result, Gill gave his players full credit for their commitment. India’s spinners bowled long spells across several days, while the fielders were required to remain on the ground for extended periods in challenging conditions.
Gill also dismissed concerns surrounding fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who appeared to operate at a reduced pace during the match. According to the captain, Siraj is not carrying an injury and is still working his way back to full rhythm after returning from a lengthy gap between matches.
Prasidh Krishna emerged as one of India’s most effective bowlers during the Test, creating opportunities when breakthroughs were difficult to find. Gill praised him as a dependable option who has consistently stepped up when wickets were not coming easily.
With India still in contention for a place in the World Test Championship final, Gill remains focused on the challenging assignments ahead. India will next face New Zealand away from home before hosting Australia in a five Test series.
