Galle, Sri Lanka
On the third day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle, the Indian team delivered a strong performance with both bat and ball. However, a light-hearted exchange between Indian players on the field also became a talking point. A video of a humorous conversation between wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan about Ravindra Jadeja has gone viral on social media.
Rain repeatedly interrupted play on the third day. Despite the disruptions, Indian bowlers maintained pressure on the Sri Lankan batters whenever they took the field. Sri Lanka had lost five wickets for 90 runs, and notably, Ravindra Jadeja had not yet been given the opportunity to bowl at that stage.
Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar had already bowled for India. During this period, Sarfaraz Khan, who was on the field as a substitute fielder, exchanged a humorous remark with Rishabh Pant.
Sarfaraz said, “It’s a long game, Jaddu bhai. We’ll share and eat.” Pant immediately replied, “Yes, and after that, everyone will swing the sword.”
Pant’s comment referred to Ravindra Jadeja’s famous celebration. Whenever Jadeja reaches a half-century or century while batting, he celebrates by swinging his bat like a sword. Cricket fans have been familiar with the distinctive celebration for years, and Pant jokingly referred to it during the conversation.
India Score 462 in the First Innings
India posted a strong total of 462 in their first innings. Devdutt Padikkal scored an impressive century to strengthen the team’s position. KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel also contributed crucial half-centuries as India reached a commanding total.
After Sri Lanka began their innings, the Indian bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals. With the first five wickets falling for 90 runs, pressure mounted on the hosts. However, Sri Lanka staged a partial recovery later and reached 284.
For India, Manav Suthar was the leading wicket-taker with four wickets. Ravindra Jadeja also made an impact with the ball, claiming three wickets. India’s bowling effort restricted Sri Lanka to 284, giving the visitors a first-innings lead of 178 runs.
Rain Interrupts Play, But India Remain in Strong Position
Rain has continued to disrupt the Galle Test, and the third day also failed to produce a full day’s play. Despite the interruptions, India made effective use of the available overs and kept Sri Lanka under pressure.
Scoring 462 and then restricting Sri Lanka to 284 proved crucial for India. With a 178-run first-innings lead, the visitors have strengthened their position in the match.
Meanwhile, the humorous exchange between Pant and Sarfaraz added a lighter moment to the game. Pant’s playful reference to Jadeja’s famous “sword celebration” has since become a talking point among cricket fans.
