India enforce follow-on as rain halts Day 4 in Colombo
India enforced the follow-on against Sri Lanka on Day 4 of the second Test in Colombo on August 26, 2026, with Sri Lanka 229 for 6 following a first-innings 290, leaving them 16 runs behind India's 503/9 declared at stumps. Heavy rain brought an early end to play, but India might still have enough time to press for a win and complete a series sweep, a result the side says would be crucial to keeping their World Test Championship final hopes alive.
India wrapped up the Sri Lankan first innings early on Day 4 and elected to make the hosts bat again, a decision taken and implemented promptly by skipper Shubman Gill. Since taking over as captain last year, Gill has enforced the follow-on on three occasions, the latest being this match in Colombo. The decision followed the fall of the last two Sri Lankan wickets early in the opening session of the day, which allowed India to push for an immediate second-innings attack.
Sri Lanka were dismissed for 290 in their first innings, with India preventing more than 35 runs being added in the morning session and denying the hosts the 303 needed to avoid the follow-on. Sonal Dinusha, who scored a first-innings century, was unbeaten on 7 at stumps after Sri Lanka were asked to bat again. Manav Suthar led the Indian attack’s recovery after his side had been a tad defensive through the first two sessions.
As soon as Saransh Jain claimed the final first-innings wicket — that of Sonal Dinusha — Gill and his players were already discussing the new ball with the umpires before the follow-on began. The television broadcast noted Saransh Jain’s breakthrough with this message from Sony Sports Network: "Maiden Test Wicket!Saransh Jain gets one to flight, Dhruv Jurel pulls off a blinder!Watch #SLvIND, 2nd Test, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV. #SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #BeautifulGameOfTestCricket pic.twitter.com/NV49qLUoh6— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 26, 2026"
At the tea break, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara said he was unsure whether India had made the right call. The Indian bowlers had heavy workloads, having bowled 89.4 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings and then 56 overs in the first two sessions of Day 4, but they took three crucial wickets in the final session to stifle Sri Lanka’s recovery. Play was curtailed by close to 15 overs lost to rain, with showers arriving towards the end of the day.
Rain is forecast for Thursday, August 27, in Colombo, which could affect the time available to force a result; nonetheless, India still have an opportunity to secure victory and complete the series sweep that would support their World Test Championship final qualification bid.