SL vs IND 2026: 3 decisions that helped India win Galle Test

2. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna in the XI

India's decision to field two fast bowlers alongside three left-arm spinners gave their attack a different dimension on a surface that typically favours spin. Mohammed Siraj removed Nishan Madushka for a duck in Sri Lanka's first innings with a back-of-a-length delivery that seamed away, with Padikkal taking the catch at first slip. In the second innings, Siraj again targeted Madushka with the outswinger before eventually dismissing him with a bouncer off the last ball of his fourth over.

Prasidh Krishna finished with figures of 2/16 off 10 overs in Sri Lanka's second innings. In the first 20 overs of that innings, fast bowlers delivered ten overs and claimed 2 wickets for 20 runs, with Sri Lanka reduced to 41/3 at that stage. Siraj and Prasidh shared five wickets amongst themselves, which were vital to India's win.