India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 1st Test, Day 2: 5 things we learnt from the day

#5 Dasun Shanaka opens up the middle-order

Shanaka proved to be a handful for the Indian middle-order

A year and a half ago, on his Test debut in England, Dasun Shanaka hogged headlines by nipping out three wickets in the space of eight deliveries, conceding just one run. The wickets included those of Alastair Cook and Joe Root. Today, after a long hiatus from the Test side, something which only the Lankan selectors would be able to explain, Shanaka returned on another seaming wicket and did his part to perfection.

He had Ajinkya Rahane driving with his fullish length and away swing and eked out an outside edge to send the sturdy Mumbai batsman on his way. Ravichandran Ashwin followed soon after, outside edging his medium pace to gully to leave India at 50/5. Shanaka's unassuming 70mph balls, accurate line and length and self-belief makes him precisely the kind of guy Lanka need now.