Sonal Dinusha lights up Colombo Test vs India with superhuman effort: Stat Pack

Sonal Dinusha has emerged as one of Sri Lanka’s biggest assets in the two-Test series against India, producing a remarkable string of scores to establish himself as the standout batsman for the hosts. His performances became even more pronounced in the Colombo Test, where his marathon unbeaten century helped Sri Lanka escape with a draw.

Dinusha finished the series with 420 runs at an average of 140, scoring three centuries and a fifty in four innings. He was consistent throughout, posting scores of 100, 84, 103 and an unbeaten 133. His ability to occupy the wicket for long periods proved crucial against India’s powerful bowling attack.

His most important contribution came in the second innings of the Colombo Test. Sri Lanka were in deep trouble after being bowled out for 290 in their first innings and were forced to resume after India posted 503/9.

With the match seemingly in India’s control, Dinusha put in a remarkable display of patience. He scored an unbeaten 133 off 264 balls and was bowled out on the final day as India desperately searched for the final wicket. His resistance, along with crucial support from the lower order, allowed Sri Lanka to reach 429/9 and secure a hard-fought draw.

Although India won the series 1-0, Dinusha gave Sri Lanka a major cause for optimism. His composure, concentration and ability to bat under immense pressure made him the unlikely hero of the Colombo Test and one of the biggest stories of the series.

Here are some numbers from the Sri Lanka vs India second test

3 – Sonal Dinusha became only the third batsman to score a century in both innings of a Test between Sri Lanka and India. The other two are Duleep Mendis who scored 105 in both innings at Chennai in 1982 and Aravinda de Silva who scored 146 and 120 at Colombo (SSC) in 1997.

8 – Sonal Dinusha became only the eighth batsman to score three centuries in a two-match Test series. The others are Aravinda de Silva (vs Pakistan and India in 1997), Jacques Kallis (vs Pakistan in 2007), Hashim Amla (vs India in 2010), Kumar Sangakkara (vs Bangladesh in 2013), Younis Khan (vs Australia in 2014), Marnus22 West in Canada and Canaan 20 Williamson (vs South Africa in 2024).

8 – Sonal Dinusha became the eighth Sri Lankan batsman to score a century in both Test innings, joining Aravinda de Silva (twice), Kumar Sangakkara (twice), Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinha, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis.

173 – Sonal Dinusha now has the most runs in a Test innings when playing sweep against spin, with 173 against India in Sri Lanka in 2026. The previous best was Joe Root’s 160 against Sri Lanka in 2021, followed by Ben Duckett’s 112 against Pakistan in 2022 and Root’s 21062 in India.

5 – Sonal Dinusha became only the fifth batsman to score doubles from No. 6 or lower in a Test match, joining Allan Border (150* and 153 vs Pakistan, Lahore, 1980), Tillakaratne Dilshan (162 and 143 vs Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2009), de Silvaladaya vs. Sylhet, 2024) and Kamindu Mendis (102 and 164 vs Bangladesh, Sylhet, 2024).

4 – Sri Lanka saved a Test for the fourth time after being asked to continue, with their previous instances coming against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 1994, England at Lord’s in 2006, West Indies in Galle in 2010 and now India in Colombo (SSC) in 2026.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

27 Aug 2026 23:48 IST