India captain Shubman Gill keen to look at positives despite final test draw

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] won ‌the opening test in Galle with ease and looked ‌set to complete a whitewash after dominating the first four days in ‌Colombo and making [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sri-lanka/zahH5UHg/"]Sri Lanka[/a] follow on.[/p][p]However, Gill's men failed ‌to deliver the knockout blow and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/india-fcOzl2uI/sri-lanka-zahH5UHg/?mid=8b4S3BL5"]Sonal Dinusha's epic rearguard action on Thursday rescued a thrilling draw[/a].[/p][p]For India, it was a missed opportunity to ‌leapfrog [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bangladesh/2of97jms/"]Bangladesh[/a] into fourth place in the World ⁠Test Championship (WTC) standings and build ‌a buffer ahead of their next two series against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/OxG0JfXg/"]​Australia[/a].[/p][p][b]"I wouldn't say the draw stings like a defeat but ... the way they drew the match from where we ​were, credit to them,"[/b] Gill told reporters.[/p][p]"It's disappointing obviously. We hoped for a win but we also have to give credit ⁠to where credit is ​due."[/p][embed guid="46672a53-4dbf-481e-a128-4e0687834ed1" url="https://x.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/2092932488427692524" social-type="twitter" /][p]Currently fifth in the table, India need to win six of their remaining seven tests to control their own destiny in the race for next year's WTC final.[/p][p]India travel to New Zealand in ‌November for a two-test series before hosting WTC leaders Australia in a blockbuster five-match contest early next year.[/p][p]Still, India can take some encouragement from the performances of several younger players.[/p][p]Spinner Manav Suthar finished as the leading wicket-taker in his first test series, while Devdutt Padikkal's twin hundreds suggested he could provide a long-term answer to India's search for a reliable number three.[/p][p]Dhruv Jurel added solidity to the middle order as well as an additional wicketkeeping ‌option.[/p][p][b]"A lot of positives from the series,"[/b] Gill said when asked ​about his key takeaways.[/p][p]"We've played good cricket on this series. ‌In fact, of the 10 days of test cricket, we dominated them on all days except on the final day.[/p][p][b]"It's not easy winning overseas. They are also here to play and these are their home conditions. Sometimes we take things ⁠for granted, but I think ⁠it was overall a ‌good series for us."[/b][/p]