India beat Sri Lanka by 278 runs, level Test series 1-1

India ensured Kumar Sangakkara’s retirement from worldwide cricket ended in heavy defeat as they completed a resounding 278-run victory to level the Test series with Sri Lanka.

“He’s been a champion bowler for us”. But when SA tour India this season they will be under the spin spotlight once more.

It was a disappointing way for Sangakkara to bow out, and the writing was on the wall for the hosts when Yadav delivered the ideal start for India as Mathews (23) edged behind from the opening ball of the day. In the flood of tributes that have come from all around the world to mark the legend’s retirement from the worldwide stage, his father’s estimation has also struck a lot of people on the social media as damning. With a four each off Ishant and Ashwin, he succeeded to a certain extent before misreading an arm ball from Ashwin that bowled him off his pads.

Sangakkara, the fifth highest run-getter in Test history, did not have to wait long to bat after Sri Lanka lost opener Kaushal Silva in the third over, tapping a full toss from Ravichandran Ashwin to the short mid-wicket fielder. Ashwin was bowling brilliantly. “He’s bowling beautifully right now and I’m glad to see him with this kind of mindset, attacking the batsmen all the time”, said Kohli.

“Obviously it’s an asset to have a spinner of such great quality in the team”. That performance put the off-spinner on 17 wickets at an average of 16.35 from the 87 overs he has bowled in two Tests. “That’s a conscious effort we’ve made so the guys feel more responsible and more involved in the game throughout”.

He walked into the middle with his team under pressure, a situation that brought the best out of him more often than not over the last 15 years.

On how he watched his son’s batting, he said, “I just knew when he was going to get out”.

The amount of turn Kaushal generates minimises the likelihood of lbw, even from around the wicket, but on this occasion he spun his offbreak just enough to beat the bat and stay on course to hit leg stump.

“The high esteem in which he is also held by his peers is emphasised by the fact that he was invited to deliver the prestigious 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s, becoming the first active player to do so”. It was the first time that I had my parents, siblings, wife and children all together at one place, watching me play.