The regular No. 3, Sai Sudharsan, didn't rec over in time to take the field, but a red-hot Padikkal was waiting in the wings and he caught the opportunity with both hands.

So was Dhruv Jurel, who finally converted his ' A' consistency into a meaningful contribution with the bat. Prasidh Krishna is emerging as the biggest positive for the Shubman Gill-led unit and is showing why he continues to enjoy the captain's vote ahead of the exciting Gurnoor Brar.

Great start to the tour, we ticked most of the boxes and did most things right. This victory will give a sense of happiness, and confidence before home series next yearKL RahulWhen vice-captain KL Rahul was asked about the win in the opener, he praised the group effusively and highlighted how ticking most boxes will give confidence going into the next Test, starting August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground in Colombo."

Very happy, every Test win is special. Great start to the tour, we ticked most of the boxes and did most things right.

This victory will give a sense of happiness, and confidence before home series next year," Rahul told reporters in the post-match presser. Away from the strategies and intense discussions, one meet-up attracted a lot of attention.

Every time Gambhir and Kirsten ran into each other, the shutterbugs were out with their cameras, capturing the frame featuring the individuals who played a key role in India's 2011 World Cup triumph. The roles had changed, but cricket, specifically coaching, dominated the conversation.

Gautam Gambhir (center) having a conversation with Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten and Team India's bowling coach Morne Morkel. (Special Arrangement) The former India coach revealed how they both value Test cricket and how their efforts are directed at seeing their respective teams play the format in a certain way.

“We didn't do much reminiscing. We actually spoke about coaching and the challenges of coaching.

We both have very strong values around Test cricket, so we had good conversation around that, obviously trying to help our players play the best Test cricket that they can, both countries. So we spoke about that, and I think we have very similar ideas to how we want our teams to play Test cricket.

So, yeah, we had good conversation around that,” said Kirsten at the post-match presser. Kirsten highlighted the positives for his team even after the defeat.

His take on Test cricket, the squad and how to approach the format seemed pretty appropriate for the situation India found themselves in not long ago. There has been a lot of chatter around transitions, multiple retirements, combinations and captaincy changes, but all that is now a thing of the past and the team can finally focus on taking the required strides towards a WTC final berth.

India's captain Shubman Gill and others walk towards the pavilion at the end of the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.

(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) India have been taking shape since the BGT in 2024-25, found some performances in England, but the rude shock against South Africa at home derailed the train that was showing signs of heading in the right direction. When wins are hard to come by, the questions don't stop.

They just keep getting louder. Both Gambhir and Kirsten are not sailing in the same boat regarding their respective coaching careers.

However, taking a leaf from the South African's book on approaching Test cricket will definitely hold his Indian counterpart in good shape as he navigates the biggest challenge of his coaching career.

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