Sri Lanka vs India: 5 talking points from the 1st Test

Sri Lanka beat India by 63 runs in the 1st Test at Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match Test series. It was one of the most remarkable comebacks in Test history as the home side were not only trailing by 192 runs after the first innings, they were also precariously placed at 95 for 5 in the second innings. But Dinesh Chandimal’s counterattacking 162 and Rangana Herath’s 7-wicket haul gave the island nation a memorable victory. Here are the 5 talking points from the match:

#1 Monkey, and not Rain, disrupts play

Monkey stops play

Had someone told you that play was stopped in Sri Lanka, your first guess would be because of the rain. But in a bizarre turn of events, a monkey became the cause of inconvenience when it decided to take a round of the field while the Indian side was fielding. This made sure a lot of jokes were made on Ramayana and Harbhajan Singh’s monkey gate remarks.

Hence, the monkey provided the much needed comic relief during the Sri Lankan second innings.

#2 Rohit Sharma at 3

Rohit Sharma failed at number 3

Virat Kohli’s insistence on taking 5 bowlers led to the debate of Rohit Sharma or Cheteshwar Pujara at 3. It came as a huge surprise when the latter was dropped despite having an average of 75.23 in subcontinent conditions. The debate has also intensified when Rohit Sharma couldn’t do justice to the trust placed in him by his captain and team director.

He got out cheaply in both the innings scoring 9 and 4 respectively. In the second innings the night watchman Ishant Sharma, sent to protect Rohit Sharma, played out more number of balls than the other Sharma did. Will we now see Pujara play the second Test?

#3 You know who

DRS or not to DRS ?

Has there ever been a closely fought India match complete without a big debate over the UDRS? This match was no different when the debate started on day 1 when Silva was adjudged caught out off his arm guard. Kohli and Rahane were at the receiving end of contentious LBW decisions.

But what would haunt India was the umpire’s decision to not raise his finger when Chandimal top edged a sweep onto his helmet and was caught by Pujara at backward short leg. Chandimal made sure he made the most of the reprieve when he launched a counter attack and scored a match turning century.

It was 7 years ago in Sri Lanka when India tried DRS for the first time and opted against it. Now, under a new captain, they may be ready to give it one more shot.

#4 Ashwin\'s 10-er

Ravi Ashwin celebrating the fall of a wicket

In a match where 31 wickets fell to spin, Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for India who took his first away 10-er. He put India in a strong position right from the first session when he dismissed the Sri Lankan openers cheaply and ended with figures of 6-46 and reducing Sri Lanka to a paltry total of 183.

He was well supported by Amit Mishra who played a Test after 4 years, but Harbhajan Singh couldn’t justify his inclusion in the team and picked a single wicket on a pitch that suited the spinners.

Ajinkya Rahane also added another feather to his cap when he his 8 catches became the highest number of catches in a single Test by a fielder (non-wicketkeeper). This has also solved India’s slip fielding conundrum for the near future.

#5 Sri Lanka\'s Comeback

Herath picked 7 wickets in the 2^nd innings

After a really long time, the Indian bowlers managed to take 20 wickets in a Test match, but were put on the back foot when the batsmen surrendered meekly to Herath and Kaushal’s deadly spin combo who put the pressure on the batsmen and didn’t let anyone to settle.

They started the day with 23/1 and a collapse seemed inevitable after Rohit Sharma was bowled by Herath. Rahane’s vigil looked like it could get the support of Amit Mishra’s resistance but that dream was shattered when Rahane edged a Herath delivery to Mathews at slip.

Earlier on Day 3, Chandimal’s gritty 162* had made sure Sri Lanka had a respectable lead of 175. The highest chased target at Galle is 99 and India could do little to change that one stat.