India are just six wickets away from winning the first Test in their two-match series against Sri Lanka.

India were bowled out for just 193 in their second innings, setting Sri Lanka a target of 372 to win, but the hosts found themselves reduced to 84-4 at stumps on day four.

Sri Lanka made a positive start with the ball earlier in the day, as Asitha Fernando (4-31) dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) with just the third delivery of the innings.

Prabath Jayasuriya (3-43) picked up the important wickets of KL Rahul (35) and Shubman Gill (8), while Keshara Nuwantha (1-86) denied Devdutt Padikkal (44) a half-century, off the back of his first-innings ton.

Rishabh Pant's 66 off 69 proved important for India as Fernando cleaned up their lower order, but the tourists' terrific work with the ball put them on the brink of victory later on Tuesday.

Mohammed Siraj (1-11) caught out Nishan Madushka (6) with a short ball before Manav Suthar (2-30) removed debutant Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who replaced Dinesh Chandimal as a concussion substitute, for a golden duck.

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva (31 not out) and first-innings centurion Sonal Dinusha (25 not out) will start day five at the crease, but their hopes of a win seem to be all but over.

Stumps on Day 4 in Galle! 

Sri Lanka 84/4 in the 2nd innings#TeamIndia  wickets away from victory in the opening #SLvIND Test.

Scorecard  https://t.co/M9LVyCAp8y pic.twitter.com/Fhu9YGYeC1

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 18, 2026

Pant makes Test history in Galle

India would have certainly planned to score more runs in their second innings, and possibly declare to give their bowlers some rest, but Sri Lanka's seamers restricted what was already going to be a daunting target.

Pant's knock proved vital in the end for India, and he scored as he usually does, counter-attacking at a strike rate of 95.7 with two sixes and eight boundaries.

The India wicket-keeper became the fastest player to hit 100 sixes in the longest format, beating Adam Gilchrist's previous record by 41 innings (1,660 balls).

Meanwhile, it was very much a day to forget for Sooriyabandara, whose unexpected debut lasted just one delivery in Galle.

Sri Lanka will still look to avoid a damaging defeat with one Test still to play, but a draw only seems likely if rain plays a role.