- The Indian cricket team had been under some pressure going into the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka before the tour commenced in earnest was obvious. After losing two crucial home series to visiting New Zealand and South Africa, Team India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship Finals were under severe strain, as future assignments would pose more challenges. Mind you, after the Sri Lanka series, Team India is scheduled to visit New Zealand for two-match Tests and play Australia at home in a mouth-watering five-match Test series early next year. The fact of the matter is that every Test match is critical for Team India’s chances of qualifying for the much-coveted WTC finals by winning the matches convincingly and comprehensively.
PC: The Indian Express
- Thus, the Sri Lanka series was supposed to provide an initial answer for the Team’s quest on how to go about qualifying for the big event. The first Test in Galle went as per the script for the visitors when Team India beat the hosts resoundingly. The contributions from Devdutt Padikkal while batting and Manav Suthar while bowling were standout performances, duly aided by Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant, and others. The focus then shifted to the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, with the momentum firmly favouring the visiting team to not only win the match but also garner crucial WTC points to move ahead, along with pocketing the series. Team India posting a 500-plus score in the first innings made it appear to be well on track.
PC: India Today
- Devdutt Padikkal scored a successive hundred. Dhruv Jurel also registered a fabulous hundred, with captain Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant scoring half-centuries. Sri Lanka folding up for 290 in the first innings meant enforcement of a follow-on. Southpaw Sonal Dinusha has been in terrific form, proving to be a thorn for the visitors in the series. Having scored a fabulous hundred and eighty-plus in the first innings of the first Test in Galle, Dinusha again contributed a fighting hundred in the first innings of the second Test. Now, what followed after Team India enforced the follow-on was a rearguard action by the gritty Sri Lankan batters, again led by who else but Sonal Dinusha. He remained unconquered at 133, thereby thwarting the visitors’ hope of winning.
PC: cricklive.in
- Apparently, batting became easier for the Lankan batters as the game progressed, with no visible help for the bowlers from the pitch. Even though Team India had claimed top-order batters without breaking into a sweat, the fight offered by Dinusha, with the help of lower-order batters, is laudable, saving the team from a series whitewash. The grit, determination, composure, and ability to soak in the pressure by young Dinusha and others ensured Team India were not only denied a win in the second Test but also prevented from earning crucial points as well. The whole series has witnessed Lanka’s lower-order batters mounting a tremendous challenge against the Indian bowlers. The draw appears like a loss for Team India. Captain/coach may deny it, though.
