IND vs SL Weather Report: The final day of the Galle Test could be a race against both Sri Lanka and the weather. India need just 6 wickets to win the first Test.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, still need 288 runs to chase down the target of 372. India are firmly in control, but rain could make the final day far more complicated than expected.
India need 6 wickets for victory
India gave Sri Lanka a huge target of 372 runs after taking a 178-run first-innings lead. By the end of Day 4, Sri Lanka had reached only 84/4.
The hosts still need another 288 runs for an unlikely victory. India, on the other hand, needed only 6 wickets.
With the Galle pitch offering turn and uneven bounce, the Indian bowlers will start Day 5 as the favourites to complete the win but there is one major concern – Rain.
Galle weather could play spoilsport again
Rain has already affected all four days of the Test. According to the weather information provided, around 87 overs have been lost because of rain so far.
The forecast for Day 5 is not encouraging either. There is around a 60% overall chance of rain, with the first session facing the biggest threat. Intermittent showers could continue throughout the day that means India may have limited time to take the six remaining wickets.
Galle Day 5 Hourly Rain Forecast
| Time | Chance of Rain |
|---|---|
| 10 AM | 49% |
| 11 AM | 52% |
| 12 PM | 58% |
| 1 PM | 25% |
| 2 PM | 20% |
| 3 PM | 20% |
| 4 PM | 20% |
| 5 PM | 20% |
| 6 PM | 25% |
The forecast suggests that the chances of rain could be higher during the morning and early afternoon. Conditions may improve later in the day. For India, that could make the opening session extremely important.
Why first session could decide Test?
India cannot control the weather. But they can control how aggressively they attack the Sri Lankan batting. If the rain stays away during the morning, India will want to make the most of every available over.
Taking two or three quick wickets could put the game almost beyond Sri Lanka’s reach. However, if rain interrupts the first session, the pressure will increase on India’s bowlers. They may have to attack with fewer overs remaining.
India’s spinners will have a huge role
The Galle surface has already started helping the spinners. India have several options in their attack. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Sutar can all exploit the turn and uneven bounce.
The conditions could make batting increasingly difficult for Sri Lanka. India’s fast bowlers can also use the older ball if the weather produces helpful conditions. But the spinners are likely to carry much of the responsibility.