Rohit Sharma began his India Test captaincy stint with an innings-and-222-run hammering of Sri Lanka at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. As he said later, it was the near-perfect game for the Indians, who won the toss, posted close to 600 and rolled over Sri Lanka twice in a combined 125 overs. Sri Lanka’s lack of fight was highly disappointing, especially on a pitch which was nowhere close to a subcontinent dustbowl. We take a look at a few talking points from the first of the two-Test series; the Bengaluru game starting March 12 will be a day-night pink-ball Test.
Ashwin overtakes Kapil Dev
R Ashwin became the second-most successful Indian Test bowler behind Anil Kumble when he dismissed Charith Asalanka in the Sri Lankan follow-on innings on the third day in Mohali. Ashwin has taken only 85 Tests to go past the legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev’s one-time world record tally of 434 wickets, which came in 131 Tests. Fittingly, Ashwin’s feat came not far from the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium in neighbouring Chandigarh, where Kapil learnt the game. Dale Steyn is next up in Ashwin’s sights at 439 wickets. Ashwin’s achievement is creditable as he has been through too many injuries of late, and has often been benched for overseas Tests in favour of Ravindra Jadeja. Both the great spin all-rounders batted together to put on 130 for the seventh wicket, during which Ashwin made a breezy 61 off 82 deliveries. His driving on the up through extra cover was a treat to watch. He is only 95 short of 3,000 Test runs now.
Kohli fails to fire in 100th Test
Former skipper Virat Kohli became only the 12th Indian to play 100 Tests; the occasion was marked by a special cap presented by coach Rahul Dravid to Kohli, with wife and actor Anushka Sharma at his side. The landmark, however, could not drive Kohli to his 71st international hundred. He looked alright during his 100-odd minute stay in the middle, except against the left-arm spin of Lasith Embuldeniya. He had been scratchy against spin in the nets too, two days before the start of the match. After a few false shots, Kohli made the error of going back when he should have been forward, and Embuldeniya found enough turn to bowl him for 45. The Indian team gave their previous captain a guard of honour when they took the field during the Sri Lankan first innings. Almost every move of his was cheered by the Mohali crowd, and in between, he’d exhort them to cheer louder. Regardless, the century drought has continued since November 2019.
The Jadeja Test?
An unbeaten 175 followed by nine wickets. Ravindra Jadeja’s dream was to make a hundred and take a five-for in the same Test, and he did way more than he had dreamed for in Mohali. Along with Rishabh Pant, he first revived India from 228 for 5, then consolidated the position with Ashwin, and finally dismantled a tired Sri Lanka in the company of Mohammed Shami. Jadeja’s batting has gone to another level since the 2018 England tour. Even when the ball cuts into him at pace, he is able to dab it behind point, unlike in the past when he’d get flustered and provoked into swinging wildly. The man with three first-class triple centuries is used to batting long. What stood out was how he adapted to his partners. He was quiet when Pant was doing his thing, played conventional strokes along with Ashwin, and only later, with Shami around, did he start lofting the ball. With the ball in hand, he was all over the Sri Lankan lower order.
The Pant show
It is not only that he does it so often, but how effortless he makes it look. Rishabh Pant went absolutely berserk after reaching his fifty, and slammed 42 off the next 15 deliveries. He charged pacers, he charged spinners, he swung them several rows behind the numerous fielders standing on the boundary, he swung them right in between two deep fielders. In no time, he was a shot away from another Test hundred, but was bowled for 96 off 97. He went down on his knee in disappointment and refused to get up for a few moments. The crowd felt his despair, for he had delighted and thrilled them so far. In a marker of just how much his keeping has come along, he got up to a Jadeja delivery but was able to crouch back a bit immediately to follow and hold on to a thick outside edge from Embuldeniya. Maybe we owe him his next few batting meltdowns, which is inevitable given the way he bats.
The new-look middle order
For the first time in a decade, India went in a Test without both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Hanuma Vihari finally got to bat at No 3, which is where he belongs, having batted in the top order in first-class cricket. Previously, he was either on the bench or at No 6 in the rare game he got. Vihari certainly has the game for the top order; he is primarily a defensive batsman, but he has his scoring areas and can move along briskly when needed to. He went against the run of play for 58, and Shreyas Iyer, who came in at No 6, made only 27. It is still pretty early days for the new entrants. The pink-ball affair in Bengaluru could be a bit of a batting lottery, so it’ll be interesting to see if the veterans are recalled for the pending series decider in England later this year. Or whether India keep the faith in the likes of Vihari, Iyer and Shubman Gill.
