Harsha Bhogle Reveals The Exact Moment The 2nd Test Might Have 'Moved On' From Sri Lanka's Grasp
Rishabh Pant's gallant fight against the Sri Lankan pacers during his unbeaten 63 was the highlight of an engrossing first session, after which India found themselves at a comfortable 419 for six
- India reached 419 for six on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka, adding 119 runs in 1st session
- Rishabh Pant scored an unbeaten 63 despite injury and persistent bouncers, while Dhruv Jurel contributed 59
- "We might look back at this session as the phase when the game moved away from Sri Lanka," Harsha Bhogle wrote
India are in a great position in the second Test. Rishabh Pant's gallant fight against the Sri Lankan pacers during his unbeaten 63 was the highlight of an engrossing first session, after which India found themselves at a comfortable 419 for six on the second day of the second and final Test on Monday. Pant and an equally impressive Dhruv Jurel (59) were batting at lunch after the tourists resumed from 300 for five, and the seventh-wicket pair has so far added 112 runs. Sri Lanka found an immediate breakthrough as Asitha Fernando dismissed debutant Saransh Jain for six. India were 307 for six then and also in need of some more runs to pull away from the hosts.
Famous cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said that the first session would go on to be the one that took the game away from Sri Lanka.
"We might look back at this session at the end of this Test match as the phase when the game moved decisively away from Sri Lanka. Pant has been tactically smart, but Jurel has been flawless," Bhogle said.
We might look back to this session at the end of this test match as the phase when the game moved decisively away from Sri Lanka. Pant has been tactically smart but Jurel has been flawless
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 24, 2026
Earlier, he praised centurion Devdutt Padikkal. "Very different kind of century from Padikkal today. After the early strokes of luck, he displayed patience and showed some fine temperament. India have found a very good player. There will be challenges ahead but, for now, it is time to acknowledge what we have here," he wrote.
Very different kind of century from Padikkal today. After the early strokes of luck, he displayed patience and showed some fine temperament. India have found a very good player. There will be challenges ahead but for now, it is time to acknowledge what we have here.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 23, 2026
Pant, who had to retire on three last evening after copping a blow on his forearm from Lahiru Kumara, walked in next, and there was a tinge of apprehension about his fitness.
But he allayed a lot of concerns, both about himself and the team's position, during his near two-hour stay at the crease, batting with confidence and showing little discomfort.
The eventual runs against his name might look good, but Pant had to dig deep to reach that mark.
Pacers Fernando and Kumara targeted his body with a barrage of bouncers, and the former even managed to hit him on the shoulder once.
However, Pant was equal to the task, either moving away from the line or nudging the ball around.
There was an explosive moment too, when the left-hander got inside the line to hook Kumara over fine leg for a six.
Pant, who made 66 in the second innings at Galle, reached his fifty in 81 balls with a pulled four off off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, whom he had earlier punished for two fours in a row.
The wicketkeeper-batter celebrated the moment with a thundering maximum off left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
On the other hand, Jurel was solid, and the lone anxious moment came when Jayasuriya made a loud leg-before appeal after the batter missed an arm ball that went past his outstretched bat.
But the right-hander too went past his second fifty of this series, pulling Jayasuriya for four.
With PTI inputs
Rishabh Pant
India Cricket Team