Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar defended Team India despite a draw in the second Test match against Sri Lanka at Colombo. The hosts had a lead of 16 runs at the end of day four, and India needed only four wickets. However, Sri Lankan batters, especially Sonal Dinusha, showed all the resistance for the home team.

On the final day, the pitch didn’t deteriorate as expected and the Indian bowlers could not get much bite from the surface. Dinusha went on to score an unbeaten knock of 133 runs and Sri Lanka finished with 429-9 in the second innings while following on.

“No one can point one finger at India for not being able to win the game. In fact, put all those fingers together & join your hands & clap! For SL and one man in particular…Sonal Dinusha,” Sanjay Manjrekar posted on his X handle.

On the other hand, Indian skipper Shubman Gill admitted they did everything they could on the final day of the second Test match but could not get a positive result.

“We fielded for about 250 overs, three days consecutively, and we did everything we can. They played brilliantly. I think the batters played really well, and they had a lot of skill and a little bit of luck going their way. So I don’t think we could have done anything differently,” said Gill at the post-match presentation.

India won the opening Test match at Galle by 165 runs and thus won the two-match series by 1-0. Devdutt Padikkal was awarded Player of the Series for scoring 328 runs in three innings at an average of 109.33.