IND v SL, 2nd Test, Day 3, Review: Virat Kohli’s double century puts India in command

The hosts India have taken a whopping lead of 405 runs over Sri Lanka in the ongoing second Test match in Nagpur at VCA Stadium. Moreover, the visitors lost one of their openers Sadeera Samarawickrama during a tricky period of 9 overs at the fag end of the day. Sri Lanka finished the day on 21/1 as they are looking towards an improbable draw. However, India can finish the match on the fourth day thanks to the stupendous double-century from their skipper Virat Kohli.

The duo of Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara strode out to the 22 yards with an aim to bat big on a super Sunday. While the former looked in no trouble whatsoever and was off his straps soon, the latter took his own time and scored off his 21st delivery of the day. They kept on moving the scoreboard though as Kohli put an exhibition of all the textbook shots in cricket. He got to his 19th Test century just after the first hour of the morning and set his sights on the double-century. But India lost Pujara at the stroke of lunch who had played beautifully until then for his 143 and the partnership of 183 was broken.

Ajinkya Rahane’s poor run continued on home turf as he flashed at a wide delivery off Dilruwan Perera only to lob a catch to Dimuth Karunaratne. Rohit Sharma then joined the skipper and both piled on the agony on the Lankans. Kohli was unperturbed by all the action at the other end and kept scoring runs consistently with an odd boundary. His partner looked all at ease and it never felt that he was out of the team for a while.

Rohit enjoyed his return in whites

The duo upped the run scoring in the post-tea session and as expected Virat Kohli notched up his fifth Test double century and equalled the record of Rahul Dravid who also has the same number of double hundred. Soon he was dismissed looking for a big shot off Perera as Rohit eased into his 80s. The team management decided to give a chance to the Mumbai batsman to get to his well-deserved century. He didn’t miss out on the opportunity and brought up his 3rd Test ton as India declared on 610/6 in 177th over.

Five-day cricket is all about big partnerships as the hosts managed three of them during their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s 202. Even Rohit and Virat added 173 in almost 40 overs for the fifth wicket which eventually ended any hopes of the visitors to make a comeback. Perera scalped three wickets but he had to count more than 200 runs as his colleagues were simply played out by the Indians.

The tired legs of the Sri Lankan openers were visible as young Sadeera flashed the first delivery of the innings only to leave the next one which cannoned onto his off-stump off Ishant Sharma. Lahiru Thirimanne and Karunaratne then weathered the storm for the remaining eight overs. Sri Lanka will only hope to put up a fight on the fourth day and take the game into the final day which will be a psychological victory for them. However, the task seems to be impossible for them with the pitch deteriorating quickly.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka 202/10 after 79.1 overs (D Chandimal 57;R Aswin 4/67, I Sharma 3/37) & 21/1 (I Sharma 1/15)

India 610/6decl after 176.1 overs (M Vijay 123, C Pujara 143, V Kohli 213, R Sharma 102*)