Sudharsan, Jurel and Rasheed put India A on top after Day 1 in Galle

A composed century from Sai Sudharsan and unbeaten fifties from captain Dhruv Jurel and Shaik Rasheed put India A firmly on top after the opening day of the first unofficial four-day Test against Sri Lanka A in Galle. Choosing to bat, the visitors dominated proceedings to close Day 1 in a commanding position at 333 for four.

It was a day defined by patient, controlled batting on a surface that offered the bowlers only occasional assistance, with India A building productive partnerships throughout to take a firm grip on the contest.

Sudharsan lays the foundation

The innings was anchored by left-hander Sai Sudharsan, who continued his fine run of form with a fluent 132 off 175 deliveries, an innings studded with 19 boundaries. He balanced patience with aggression, punishing the loose balls while respecting the deliveries that moved off the pitch.

Sudharsan got things going with an 82-run opening stand alongside Aayush Pandey, who made 25 from 64 balls before becoming the first man to fall.

A brief middle-order wobble

Pandey's dismissal, to left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera in the 23rd over, triggered a brief stutter. India A slipped from a comfortable 82 for none to 181 for three, with Devdutt Padikkal departing for a seven-ball 12 and Ruturaj Gaikwad trapped lbw for 22.

Unfazed by the loss of those quick wickets, Sudharsan simply rebuilt, bringing up his hundred and pushing on before he was eventually dismissed by medium-pacer Chamika Gunasekara with the score at 217 for four. That opening offered Sri Lanka A a glimmer of hope.

Jurel and Rasheed shut the door

Any thoughts of a hosts' fightback were swiftly extinguished. Captain Dhruv Jurel and Shaik Rasheed came together and batted with maturity and control, stitching an unbroken 116-run stand for the fifth wicket to steer India A safely through the final session.

Jurel led from the front, rotating the strike cleanly and putting away the bad balls to finish unbeaten on 68 from 138 deliveries with five fours. Rasheed complemented him perfectly, looking equally assured against pace and spin in an unbeaten 53 off 92 balls, laced with four boundaries.

Sri Lanka A toil

For the hosts, the bowlers found life difficult on a placid surface, with India A maintaining a healthy scoring rate of close to four an over across the 86 overs bowled. Left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera was the pick of the attack, sending down a marathon 29-over spell to claim two for 98.

Gunasekara and fast bowler Ravindu Fernando chipped in with a wicket apiece, but the bowling unit generally struggled to contain the Indian batters, who kept finding partnerships at key moments.

The day in numbers

By stumps, India A had reached 333 for four with six wickets still in hand and two well-set batters at the crease. The platform laid by Sudharsan, and the late control of Jurel and Rasheed, leaves the visitors superbly placed to push for a substantial first-innings total.

For a side packed with players eyeing higher honours, it was an ideal start — disciplined, patient and ruthless when the opportunity arose.

The final word

This is a multi-format tour designed to give India's emerging talent a stage on which to press their claims, and Day 1 in Galle offered exactly that. With Jurel and Rasheed set to resume on the second morning, India A will look to convert their strong start into a commanding total — and put real pressure on Sri Lanka A as the match unfolds.