It was all India right from Day 1 of this 2nd test match of the series. Apart from a single session that Sri Lanka dominated on Day 1, India were all over the visitors like a rash, bowling them out for 205, and then posting a massive 1st innings total of 610/6 decl, with a lead of 405.
This innings was star-studded with 4 centuries from the Indian batting line-up:
- Murali Vijay – 128 (on his comeback match)
- Cheteshwar Pujara – 143 (faced 362 balls)
- Virat Kohli – 213 (5th career double century)
- Rohit Sharma – 102* (test century after 3 years)
All the Indian bowlers had to do was then come out and bowl out Sri Lanka once again; except this time, they had over 2 days to do it, and a lead of 405 to bowl at as well. The visitors weren’t able to apply themselves, having lost a wicket before Stumps on Day 3 itself.
They made it even worse by coming out on Day 4 and losing 7 wickets in the first session. They did maintain a good scoring rate but that wasn’t going to be considered as they were eventually facing a huge loss. The only positive point of their 2nd innings was an 82-ball 61 by the skipper Dinesh Chandimal.
Quickest to 300 wickets in Test cricket:
54 matches – RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN
56 matches – Dennis Lillee
58 matches – Muttiah Muralitharan
61 matches – Richard Hadlee / Malcolm Marshall / Dale Steyn#INDvSL— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 27, 2017
Ravichandran Ashwin picked up the last wicket of the Sri Lankan innings, knocking the bails off against Lahiru Gamage, and ending with figures of 4/63. Ashwin picked up a stump as he also reached the landmark of 300 test wickets, becoming the fastest ever to this milestone. Well done Ashwin!
The talking point however, will not be India’s massive win, or them going 1-0 up in the series. There is talk about Virat Kohli being rested for the rest of the test series, and also for the ODIs and T20s against Sri Lanka over the next month. This is the biggest news!
We know that Kohli has been playing cricket throughout the year – one of the few in the team that has played all three formats. However, why has this come all of a sudden? Kohli mentioned rest earlier, citing personal reasons. Are there chances of the Indian skipper tying the knot with Anushka Sharma anytime soon?
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