[WATCH] Shubman Gill Takes A Stunner To Dismiss Kamindu Mendis

Shubman Gill produced a moment of brilliance in the field on Day 3 of the opening Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle on Monday, taking a stunning catch to dismiss Kamindu Mendis.

Mendis stepped out of his crease and attempted to drive a full delivery from Kuldeep Yadav through the extra-cover region. Gill, however, reacted instantly. He launched himself to his left at full stretch and grabbed the ball just inches above the turf.

It was the sort of shot that many fielders would have been satisfied simply preventing from reaching the boundary, but Gill's quick reflexes and athletic ability turned it into a wicket. He also maintained complete control of the ball after landing, ensuring the catch was safely completed.

Gill immediately tossed the ball into the air in celebration, clearly aware that he had pulled off an exceptional piece of fielding.

"Wow, he had no right to take that," said Sanjay Manjrekar on air. "Honestly, it was never within his reach. Even the batter would have thought, 'Yeah, it's in the air, but it was well away.' One of the best catches that you will see in that area."

Sri Lanka wasted no time in ending India's first innings on the third morning of the opening Test at the Galle International Stadium. Asitha Fernando dismissed Prasidh Krishna with just the fourth delivery of the day, bowling India out for 462 on Monday.

India had begun proceedings from their overnight total of 460/9. Before play resumed, the visitors chose not to use the heavy roller, seemingly hoping the surface would continue to deteriorate while the final pair added a few more runs.

However, the move did not produce the desired result. India's last-wicket stand survived for less than three minutes, allowing Sri Lanka to bring the innings to a swift conclusion in the opening over.

Asitha Fernando opened the day by targeting Prasidh Krishna with a back-of-a-length delivery directed at his body. Krishna defended awkwardly but managed to steer the ball towards square leg, collecting his first run and bringing Kuldeep Yadav on strike.

Kuldeep faced a short delivery outside off stump and pulled it over the jumping fielder inside the circle. The ball travelled towards deep mid-wicket, allowing him to take a single and send Krishna back to the striker's end.

Fernando then switched to around the wicket and made life increasingly uncomfortable for the Indian tail-ender. His next short ball struck Krishna around the ribs as the batter failed to move away from the line of the delivery.

The Sri Lankan pacer continued with the same aggressive approach. Krishna tried to pull the following ball but could only get a faint touch through to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, who accepted a straightforward catch to bring India's innings to an end.

Krishna was dismissed for two runs from seven deliveries, while Kuldeep remained unbeaten on 13.

Play began 15 minutes ahead of the usual time after persistent rain had resulted in several overs being lost across the opening two days as well.