Virat Kohli Birthday: Top 5 victories for India under Kohli in Tests

#1 Sri Lanka vs India, Colombo (SSC), 2015

Cheteshwar Pujara hit 145* while opening in the first innings to save India from trouble

India 312 and 274 beat Sri Lanka 201 and 268 by 117 runs

Sri Lanka fielded first and the returning Cheteshwar Pujara opened the batting only to see seven of his colleagues depart cheaply. Dhammika Prasad, with four early wickets, had broken India’s back but Pujara stood firm amidst brilliant swing and seam bowling. He finally found an able ally in Amit Mishra, with whom he added 104 before the latter was stumped for a more than handy 59. Pujara remained undefeated on 145 with India managing 312 on the board.

Ishant Sharma then repeatedly hit the right lengths as Sri Lanka feared facing a huge deficit – they were 48/6 at one stage – but rapid lower-order runs from Kusal Perera, who got 55, Prasad and Rangana Herath, 49, left India only 111 ahead with Ishant claiming 5/54. Aiming to build a solid advantage, India again succumbed to pace with Rohit Sharma and Stuart Binny eventually bringing middle-order stability. Prasad and Nuwan Pradeep picked up four men each as Ravi Ashwin, the batsman, steered India out of trouble by making 58 and stretching India’s lead to 385.

With the series on the line, Ishant and Umesh Yadav reduced Sri Lanka to 102/5. However, captain Angelo Mathews and Perera ensured things did not slip away easily with a quietly dominating partnership of 135. But once Ashwin removed Perera, Sri Lanka collapsed like nine pins to surrender the game.