A draw result in Galle Test will hurt India's chances of reaching the WTC final.
Following a disappointing home series defeat against South Africa, the team currently sits fifth on the WTC table with a 48.15% points percentage. To qualify for the final next year, Shubman Gill's men need to win at least six or seven of their nine remaining matches in this cycle.
Therefore, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has urged the management to be aggressive and "brave" with their declaration timing on Day 4, emphasizing that they cannot afford to lose valuable points due to rain delays.
Because persistent rain has washed out chunks of play over the first three days, Pujara noted that traditional safety-first batting will end in a draw, which hurts India's WTC prospects.
“India will have to make their intentions very clear. Not a lot of time is left in the Test match. Also, you have to keep an eye on the forecast. You can’t ignore it. To qualify for the WTC final, they will have to win both the Test matches. To do that, they will have to be a little brave and a little more aggressive,” Pujara told Cricinfo.
“India will have to be brave with their declaration. They will have to give enough time to the bowlers. Maybe try and look at a minimum of 90-100 overs. To do that, India will have to declare at somewhere between 350-375. In worst case scenario, if Sri Lanka get to 350-375, give credit to Sri Lanka, but India will have to be brave,” he added.
Coming to the match, India posted 462 runs in their first innings courtesy of a maiden Test century by Devdutt Padikkal (167).
In reply, the hosts were bowled out for 284, despite a resilient sixth-wicket partnership between Niroshan Dickwella (80) and Sonal Dinusha (100).
Manav Suthar claimed four wickets and Ravindra Jadeja took three as the visitors earned a substantial 178-run first-innings lead at stumps on Day 3.