KL Rahul kisses Padikkal after DRS save

Having bundled out the Sri Lankan side for 284 runs to take the lead by 178 runs against their 462 runs in the first innings of the opening Test of the two-match series at the Galle International Stadium, India aimed to impose a massive target for the home side as KL Rahul’s emotional act went viral across social media platforms.

Rahul batted really well in the first innings of the red-ball contest when he smashed a dashing knock of 82 runs off 175 balls, thanks to 10 boundaries and one six, in which he retired hurt on the very first day after getting cramped in his finger.

The moment: Rahul's emotional reaction after Padikkal's spot-on review call

It was the final delivery of the 11th over of the innings when Prabath Jayasuriya went with an arm-delivery as Rahul prodded forward and was beaten on the inside edge before the ball pinned him on the back pad. The bowler reviewed it, only for the umpire to raise his finger immediately.

Watch KL Rahul kissing Padikkal here-

Rahul wasn’t confident and was almost walking back to the dressing room. But Devdutt Padikkal asked him to go for the review. This was done purely in hope, as the replays showed that no bat was involved. The impact was in line but missed the stumps, going over the top of the stumps.

Neither Sri Lanka nor Rahul could believe it. He looked relieved and gave Padikkal a big bear hug, besides kissing him for convincing him to take the review. He was later finally dismissed for 35 runs, thanks to two boundaries and as many sixes.

India's position: Rahul-Padikkal extend India's lead on Day 4 in Galle

India didn’t make a great start in the second innings of their batting as they lost their opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, for a duck in the opening over of the fourth day before Padikkal and Rahul put up a fine partnership of 65 runs for the second wicket. The former, backed up by his fine knock of 167 runs in the first innings, continued to get success.

The Indian captain, Shubman Gill, on eight runs, was trapped leg before the stumps as the visitors aimed to go for the runs aggressively, as they also hoped to declare their innings with a strong lead.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, tried to bowl in the right line and length to dry up the runs and pick up wickets consistently.

Brief Scores: India 462 (Devdutt Padikkal 167, Prabath Jayasuriya 4/109) & 103/3 (Devdutt Padikkal 44*, P Jayasuriya 2/38) lead Sri Lanka 284 (Sonal Dinusha 100, Manav Suthar 4/76) by 281 runs.