Rishabh Pant produced a moment of brilliance on the Day 4 in Colombo. The Indian wicketkeeper who was back behind the stumps after a shoulder injury earlier in the Test, dived full length to his right
and removed the bails in a flash. Pasindu Sooriyabandara was on 92 and charged Manav Suthar. He missed the flighted delivery wide of off stump, and the wicket-keeper effected the stumping. He went horizontal with gloves stretched, body low to the turf and was quick to remove the bails off. This happened in the 61st over of Sri Lanka’s second innings and was a big moment in the game.
TERRIFIC STUMPING BY RISHABH PANT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Cm6cgf11oL
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 26, 2026
Pant had been sidelined by a shoulder bruise earlier in the match and did not keep wickets on Day 3. However he was back on the field on Day four and produced a magical moment that cut short a determined resistance from Pasindu. The video posted by Sony Sports went viral with fans praising the stumping. Just in the previous ball, Pasindu had survived an lbw decision which was overturned and he stepped out the very next ball and was dismissed stumped at a crucial stage of the match.
India bounce back strong on Day 4 after enforcing follow on
The Day four started with India striking early to remove the lower order of Sri Lanka as the hosts were bowled out for 290. Sonal Dinusha was the only batter who stood strong as he completed his second hundred of the series. Indian captain Shubman Gill enforced the follow-on without hesitation. The decision was made keeping in mind the rain interruptions that could play a big role in the latter stages of the match. Sri Lanka began the second innings needing to bat time and build a lead. They lost the openers early but Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis built a partnership and counter attacked. Sooriyabandara scored 92 before he was dismissed.
Kamindu Mendis scored a solid fifty but lost his wicket against the run of play. For long periods of the game, the surface offered very little and the Indian attack was made to toil hard. They lost a couple of wickets in quick succession as De Silva and Dickwella were dismissed cheaply. Sri Lanka ended with 229 for 6 and a lead of just 16 runs when the rain returned and the day came to an end. India still need four more wickets to win the match and go into Day 5 as the strong favorites to clinch the match. The visitors will hope that rain stays away as they look to win the series.
