Pant and Jurel fifties take India to 419/6 at lunch in Colombo

Rishabh Pant (unbeaten 63) and Dhruv Jurel (59) put on a 112-run seventh-wicket stand to lift India to 419 for six at lunch on day two of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on August 24, 2026.

India resumed on 300 for five and lost a wicket early when Asitha Fernando removed debutant Saransh Jain for six, leaving the tourists 307 for six before the recovery began. Pant had retired hurt on three on the previous evening after taking a blow to his forearm from Lahiru Kumara, prompting concern about his fitness when he returned to bat.

Pant occupied the crease for nearly two hours, negotiating a sustained bouncer assault from pacers Asitha Fernando and Kumara that even struck his shoulder once, and he responded by either moving off the line or nudging the ball into gaps. He produced an uppercut hook for six off Kumara, reached his fifty in 81 balls with a pulled four off off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha — having earlier hit Nuwantha for two successive fours — and celebrated the milestone with a thundering maximum off left-armer Prabath Jayasuriya.

Dhruv Jurel provided a steady partner, surviving a loud leg-before appeal from Jayasuriya after an arm ball passed his outstretched bat, and the right-hander brought up his second fifty of the series with a pull for four off the same bowler.

Pant, who had made a 66 in the second innings at Galle earlier in the series, was described in the coverage as having to dig deep to reach his unbeaten 63, showing little visible discomfort despite the earlier injury.

At lunch on day two of the second and final Test in Colombo, India were 419 for six with Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 63 and Dhruv Jurel on 59.