Shubman Gill Takes Stunning Diving Catch to Dismiss Kamindu Mendis on Day 4 in Colombo
Indian captain Shubman Gill pulled off an athletic diving catch at square leg to dismiss a settled Kamindu Mendis during the second session of Day 4 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. The dismissal broke a century partnership and swung momentum back to India as Sri Lanka continued their follow-on innings.
What Happened
The breakthrough came in the 44th over of Sri Lanka’s second innings on August 26. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna delivered a short-pitched ball to Kamindu Mendis, which climbed sharply off the batter’s bat and flew towards the square leg region. Positioned at square leg, India’s captain Shubman Gill tracked the flight of the ball, moved backwards, and completed a clean diving catch to send Mendis back to the pavilion.
Video footage of the dismissal was shared on social media platform X by official broadcaster Sony Sports Network, showcasing the full sequence of Krishna’s short ball and Gill’s back-pedalling grab.
Key Highlights
- Crucial Stand Ended: Mendis was dismissed after compiling 55 runs in what had been a composed innings at the crease.
- Century Partnership Broken: Mendis had joined forces with Pasindu Sooriyabandara to build a 115-run stand, mounting resistance in Sri Lanka’s second innings.
- Match Situation: Following on, Sri Lanka stood at 178 for 3 at the time of the wicket, still trailing India’s first-innings lead by 35 runs.
- Prasidh Krishna’s Impact: Krishna added the key wicket to his tally after having previously taken three wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings, where fellow bowler Manav Sutar also claimed three wickets.
Why This Matters
Mendis had looked completely at ease and was steering Sri Lanka back into contention alongside Sooriyabandara. Because Sri Lanka were forced to follow on, breaking this 115-run stand was critical for the visiting Indian side to curb the hosts’ fightback. Gill’s effort in the field provided a timely breakthrough from the front, restoring India’s control in the contest while Sri Lanka were still in a deficit.
What to Watch Next
With Sri Lanka remaining in a follow-on scenario and their primary resistance broken at 178 for 3, India will look to utilize the remaining overs of Day 4 at the SSC ground to press forward in pursuit of victory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who took the catch to dismiss Kamindu Mendis?
Indian captain Shubman Gill took the diving catch at square leg after tracking the ball and back-pedalling.
Who was the bowler responsible for the delivery?
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna induced the top edge with a climbing short delivery.
How many runs did Kamindu Mendis score before getting out?
Kamindu Mendis scored 55 runs before his dismissal in the 44th over.
What was Sri Lanka’s score and position at the time of the dismissal?
Sri Lanka were 178 for 3, trailing India’s first-innings lead by 35 runs while following on.
Source: CricTracker report and footage shared by Sony Sports Network.