India Test captain Shubman Gill has set his sights on the World Test Championship (WTC) final after leading the team to a convincing 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle. The win gave India a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and also marked a memorable occasion as the team played its 600th Test.

The victory was powered by an outstanding bowling performance from young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who claimed 10 wickets across both innings. Suthar finished with four wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings before adding six more in the second, playing a decisive role in India’s victory on a turning Galle surface.

Shubman Gill was pleased with the way India handled the challenges presented by the match, particularly the uncertain weather conditions. Speaking after the game, he admitted that the team was unsure how much play would be possible on the final two days.

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“Very satisfying win for us. We were in a comfortable position, but weren’t sure if the match would go on because of the weather, but the team responded well,” Shubman Gill said.

India’s second-innings batting effort produced only 193 runs, but Gill was not overly concerned. He explained that the visitors deliberately adopted an aggressive approach because they wanted to set up enough time for their bowlers to dismiss Sri Lanka. “We wanted to get around 400 in the third innings. The wicket wasn’t easy to score runs at will, so we were looking to play more aggressively,” the India captain explained.

Sri Lanka began the final day at 84/4 while chasing 372 and briefly threatened to extend the contest. Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha added 95 runs, but Suthar’s spell eventually broke the resistance. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 206, handing India a comprehensive victory.

Shubman Gill was particularly impressed by Suthar’s performance and believes the young spinner has a bright future in international cricket. “He has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time,” Gill said.

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The victory also provided India with valuable momentum after their recent struggles in Test cricket. Shubman Gill made it clear that the team’s larger objective remains qualification for the WTC final. “The WTC Final is the ultimate goal. Test wins don’t come easy and this one is delightful,” Gill said.