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India's WTC push gathers pace after Galle Test win: What they need to do now India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test in Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The win earned India 12 crucial WTC points and revived their hopes of reaching the final after they finished third in the previous cycle. India's push for a place in the World Test Championship final received a much-needed boost after beating Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test in Galle on Wednesday. The victory gave India a 1-0 series lead and marked their first win in the current WTC cycle since sweeping the West Indies 2-0 at home last October. Two standout performances shaped the result. Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar claimed a 10-wicket match haul, while Devdutt Padikkal anchored the batting with a memorable maiden international century. Padikkal struck a brilliant 167 from 230 balls in the first innings and added a solid contribution in the second, ending the match with 211 runs to set Sri Lanka a target of 372. SL vs IND, 1st Test Day 5: Highlights | Report Suthar set the foundation in the first innings, picking up four wickets to help secure a 178-run lead. He returned on the final day to finish the job, snaring six more as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206. Four of those wickets came during a blistering 10-ball burst on the fifth afternoon, snuffing out any chance of a home fightback. The 12 points earned in Galle provide a vital boost as India attempt to salvage a rocky WTC campaign. WHERE INDIA STAND IN WTC RACE India now sit on 64 points from 10 Tests in the current cycle, with five wins, one draw, and four losses yielding a points percentage of 53.33%. Despite the dominant display, India remain fifth in the standings. Bangladesh's victory over Australia in Darwin pushed their points percentage to 66.67%, preventing India from moving up the table despite claiming the full quota of points in Galle. However, the result keeps India within touching distance of the top spots and offers welcome breathing room following a disappointing home series against South Africa last November. WHAT INDIA NEED TO REACH FINAL India have minimal margin for error from here. A 0-2 loss to South Africa on the heels of a 0-3 home sweep against New Zealand left the team needing a near-flawless finish to secure a top-two spot. To stay in serious contention, India must win at least six of their remaining eight Tests-a steep challenge given the schedule ahead. The upcoming three-Test tour of New Zealand in November will be critical. India have not won a Test on Kiwi soil since 2009. Following that away trip, India host Australia for a demanding five-Test Border-Gavaskar series. With the stakes heightened, India must channel the composure shown in Galle and eliminate the batting collapses and tactical errors that cost them in recent series. GALLE WIN OFFERS INDIA A LIFT For a side struggling for form in the WTC cycle, the victory in Galle came at an essential juncture. Suthar's 10-wicket match haul announces a reliable new spin option, while Padikkal's first-innings 167 offered the sort of top-order authority India had been missing. A single win does not guarantee a trip to the WTC final. Navigating eight remaining Tests and securing six victories remains a formidable task. Yet, after months of setbacks, India have finally halted the slide. The path to the final remains treacherous, but Galle has given India the spark required to keep their campaign alive.