COLOMBO, Aug 27 (Reuters) - India captain Shubman Gill remains hopeful that his side can still reach the World Test Championship final despite being denied a series sweep by Sri Lanka on Thursday.
India appeared well placed to complete a 2-0 sweep but Sri Lanka held on for a draw after a stirring rearguard action led by middle-order batter Sonal Dinusha.
India, currently fifth in the WTC standings, travel to New Zealand for two tests later this year before hosting Australia in a blockbuster five-match series early in 2027.
"We are going to New Zealand in November, that will be a good series for us, and then we've got a good home series coming," Gill said at the presentation ceremony.
"If we have a good New Zealand series, and as long as we have a chance, we'll keep believing. Hopefully we'll make it to the WTC final."
India have little margin for error in their bid to finish in the top-two of the WTC standings. Of their remaining seven tests, they must win at least six to control their destiny.
After declaring their first innings on 503-9, India bowled Sri Lanka out for 290 and enforced the follow-on.
However, their bowlers were unable to replicate that effectiveness in the second innings and they had to settle for a draw after Dinusha struck his second hundred of the match.
"In hindsight, you can say 'was the follow-on a right decision?' Keeping the weather in mind, we were not sure if there would be a full day of play on day five," Gill said.
"You can talk about these things in hindsight but when you are in that moment, you try and take the best decision that you can. Some of the things didn't go our way, but it was a brilliant game and I think test cricket won today."
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva was pleased with the performances of batters Dinusha and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, as well as all-rounder Keshara Nuwantha.
"It's all about finding the talent for the future of Sri Lanka cricket," de Silva said. "I thank the selectors and the coach, who gave me that opportunity to get the youngsters in and let them really go there and do the job for the country."
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Ken Ferris)
