India, June 17 -- Sixteen years after making his Test debut at the Galle International Stadium, Angelo Mathews returned to the same venue for his final appearance in the whites, closing the chapter on a red-ball career that has shaped Sri Lankan cricket for over a decade. The 38-year-old all-rounder and one of Sri Lanka's most accomplished Test batters in the current lineup, Mathews, announced his retirement from the format ahead of the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh, prompting a heartfelt farewell from teammates and fans alike.

As players took the field on Day 1, Mathews was honoured with a guard of honour by his teammates, a gesture that captured the immense respect he commands within the Sri Lankan dressing room.

Mathews, who ...