Virat Kohli-led team India won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat first at Galle. The idea was to avoid batting last on the wicket. India started off well, but soon saw the back of Abhinav Mukund for 12. He was making a comeback into the team as a replacement just like Shikhar Dhawan. He did not make his opportunity count, but Shikhar Dhawan did the absolute opposite. He took the bulls by the horns, initially, he was watchful but once he got his eye in, he was dealing in boundaries. He was aptly supported from the other end by Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara, as expected was not bothered by the breathtaking pace at which Dhawan was batting. He was more happy to give the strike to Dhawan and watch from the other end. The Lankan bowlers were lacklustre and their bowling lacked depth apart from Nuwan Pradeep.
They hardly looked like taking wickets as Pradeep was the only one who was troubling the Indian batsmen. Dhawan scored a blistering 190 off 168 balls. The innings comprised of 31 fours but departed just when he was looking to get 200. He was dismissed by Nuwan Pradeep.
Captain Virat Kohli would like to forget his outing as he could not make a big score as he got the faintest of edges to the wicketkeeper, in an attempt to pull. He scored merely 3 before getting dismissed. While Pujara held ground at the other end, he got the support of Rahane, along with whom they saw India safely to the end of the first day’s play at 399/3.
Nice and straight! @ajinkyarahane88 preps for Day __#TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/xrP6SuZaJc
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 27, 2017
Play resumed on day 2 after scattered showers. India did not get off well as they lost a well-set Cheteshwar Pujara for 153. On this occasion as well, Nuwan Pradeep was the bowler. Rahane followed suit soon, he departed for 57.
Ashwin played a good hand of 47 before being dismissed. Saha was dismissed for 16 runs. India went into lunch on the second day at 503/7. Soon after lunch, India lost Ravindra Jadeja for 15 runs. Then after a blistering 62-run stand, Mohammad Shami departed for 30 runs. Indian team was finally bowled out for 600. Hardik Pandya scored 50 on debut. Nuwan Pradeep ended up with 6 wickets.
