Who is Sonal Dinusha? All you need to know about Sri Lanka star who scored century in SL vs IND 1st Test
Sonal Dinusha scored 100 runs in Sri Lanka’s first innings.
On Day 3 of the 1st Test between Sri Lanka and India (SL vs IND) at Galle, 25-year-old Sri Lankan all-rounder Sonal Dinusha grabbed global attention with his maiden Test century. This match marks the fourth match in the Sri Lankan all-rounder’s career.
Having posted a respectable 462 in the first innings, India looked in a formidable position before Sri Lanka stepped out to bat. The home side looked in deep trouble, with half of the team sent back to the pavilion without reaching even three figures.
The spin-bowling all-rounder came in to bat after Shubman Gill‘s extraordinary effort on the field led to the dismissal of Kamindu Mendis.
The left-handed batter rescued the hosts from a mountain of a run deficit. Alongside Niroshan Dickwella, he forged a fighting comeback for his team with a 146-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Who is Sonal Dinusha?
The 25-year-old Sri Lankan cricketer was born on December 4th, 2000, in Colombo. During his early days at Mahanama College, he was deemed an elegant left-handed batter and a quality spin bowler.
Scouted for his natural ability since his teenage years, he worked his way up through the age groups and finally went on to represent Sri Lanka in the 2020 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. His first-class debut came in 2018 for the prestigious Colombo Cricket Club.
Playing at the domestic level, Dinusha demonstrated his ability to master the longer format with patience and composure, while also making significant contributions with his spin bowling. Soon, he became a regular player for the Colombo Cricket Club and then for the Dambulla Sixers.
Before his debut for Sri Lanka in international cricket, he earned a reputation as an all-rounder in their domestic circuit. With 3698 runs and 133 wickets in first-class cricket, Sonal is one of the most balanced cricketers lower down the order.
International debut and breakthrough
Dinusha made his official Test debut for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh on June 25th, 2025. That was his first international match played at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. He then represented his national side twice in the Test series against the West Indies.
After having missed out on his maiden Test hundred against the West Indies, his breakout moment came against Gill’s Indian side at Galle. Facing the spin-heavy attack led by veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja and skilled tricksters Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar, Dinusha demonstrated an exemplary skill set.
Countering the spin with sweeps and reverse sweeps, he registered his maiden century, strengthening his reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most promising young talents. Earlier during India’s innings, Dinusha was the sixth bowler used as a bowling option by skipper Dhananjaya de Silva.
How many runs did Sonal Dinusha score in the first innings of SL vs IND 1st Test?
Sonal Dinusha scored 100 runs in Sri Lanka’s first innings of SL vs IND 1st Test.
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Subhomoy Datta has been a sports writer since 2022. He holds a BSc in Microbiology from Rastraguru Surendranath College, WBSU, and is currently pursuing his master’s at NIT Surathkal. With a growing interest in sports journalism, he enjoys following the game closely and turning sporting moments into stories for fans.