India culminate a Test series win in Sri Lanka – An anatomization of the historic win

India culminate a Test series win in Sri Lanka – An anatomization of the historic win: India broke a 22-year-old jinx, finally winning a Test series on Sri Lankan soil. The wrecker-in-chief was Ravichandran Ashwin who finished with a series haul of 21 wickets which incidentally is also the highest tally by an Indian bowler in a Test series between the two sides. Cheteshwar Pujara was awarded the man of the match for his sterling undefeated knock of 145 in the third Test which was instrumental in India winning the Test and the series as a result.

Before the start of the Test series, not many would have predicted such an outcome given that India had never won a Test series in Sri Lanka for 22 years. Also, the fact that India was playing its first full series under Virat Kohli as skipper with his much talked about ‘aggressive brand of cricket’ was being put to the Test. Especially after India lost the first Test from a winning position, doubts would have arisen whether this team had the character to bounce back. But, displaying complete team effort, the visitors managed to create history and chalked out a memorable series victory.

Also read: Sri Lanka vs India 3rd Test: Statistical Highlights

This series would also be remembered as the swan song of one of the game’s greatest batsmen Kumar Sangakkara. Statistically, he has the highest Test average among the top six run-getters of the world and with 11 double hundreds is second only to the ‘Don’. That he started out as a wicketkeeper-batsman before playing solely as a batsman since 2006 during which he accomplished a Test batting average of 66 plus, is testament to his skill and commitment and again puts him second behind Bradman in the list of all-time batting averages.

The first Test at Galle saw India bowl out Sri Lanka for 183 with Ashwin taking 6 wickets. On the back of centuries from Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan, India managed to take a 192-run lead in the first innings. But, the Sri Lankans seized the initiative in the second innings with a blistering knock of 162 by Dinesh Chandimal, albeit fortuitously and set India a total of 176 to win. The umpiring blunders from which Chandimal graciously benefitted on more than one occasion again ignited the debate over the use or absence of the DRS (Decision Review System). Personally, I feel it is high time that we adopted the DRS even though it may not be foolproof yet, because it eliminates the howlers at least. On a deteriorating fifth day pitch, the Indian batsmen came unstuck and showed a lack of skill and resolve in succumbing to a 63-run defeat with Rangana Herath snuffling 7 wickets.

India won the toss and batted first scoring 393 in the first innings of the second Test at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. K L Rahul who was drafted into the side as a replacement for an injured Shikhar Dhawan scored a fluent hundred for the visitors. Amit Mishra’s 4-wicket haul restricted the hosts to 306 giving India a lead of 87 runs. Ajinkya Rahane stepped up to the plate in the second innings scoring a vital 126 which enabled India to set a daunting target of 412 in the fourth innings. The Indian spinners spun a web around the Sri Lankan batsmen taking 8 wickets between them to level the series for the visitors.

In a series of fluctuating fortunes, Sri Lanka put India in to bat after winning the toss in the series decider at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Beset by injuries to both its openers, Cheteshwar Pujara making a comeback from an injury lay-off struck a fighting unbeaten century that saw India getting to 312 in the first innings. Ishant Sharma took 5 wickets as the Sri Lankans were dismissed for 201 in their first innings giving India a sizeable lead of 111 runs. Through steady contributions from the middle and lower order, India scored 274 in the second innings setting Sri Lanka a target of 386. In spite of a valiant hundred from the skipper Angelo Mathews, the hosts fell well short of the target losing by 117 runs.

What helped India to win the series? At crucial moments, the batsmen and bowlers put their hands up and made important contributions especially in the second and third Tests, which enabled India to register only its second win in a Test series on Sri Lankan soil.