India leads Sri Lanka by 121 runs in 1st test

Sri Lanka will be tested. Dhawan has not only cashed in, but maximized.

Shikhar Dhawan scored a splendid 134 runs while captain Kohli also slammed his 11th Test ton in the match.

India went into tea on 304 for six after 91 overs with Sri Lanka finally winning a session by conceding 77 runs and taking four wickets.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed six wickets as India bowled out Sri Lanka for 183 but then stumbled briefly in reply in a rousing start to the first Test on Thursday. The last four overs to the Lankans made for delicious viewing, a throwback to the Anil Kumble era. Otherwise, it was the hard-working, earnest kind of innings you would expect of a Dravid or a Kane Williamson, say. It showed that three hundreds in his first two Tests as skipper was no flash in the pan.

With the predicted rain showers staying away, the two batsmen had the task cut out ahead of them. Pacer Nuwan Pradeep chipped in with 3/98. At times, even the moment when he has crossed a hundred. I will think how to contribute more for my team, to take my team ahead. India just look too strong for Sri Lankan batsmen who seem to be all at sea against this attack.

It was a tribute to the work of Dhawan and Kohli that they were able to steer India into a position of such dominance. It had involved practicing the sweep shot and stepping out on turning tracks, not necessarily to charge the bowlers and plant him into the stand over long-on, but to throw bowlers off their lengths and turn the strike over. “That’s what wickets like these demand”.

There were no further half-chances coming for the hosts thereafter as Dhawan-Kohli settled down after an engaging first hour of play that yielded 41 runs.

Kohli followed his partner into three figures in the afternoon session, bringing up his 11th career century by driving Tharindu Kaushal through the covers for four. Sangakkara is building towards his innings here.

“He (Kohli) was born to lead”.

It also sets up what could be a very intriguing third day, with the visitors in the ascendancy and surely on track for victory.

“Our support staff has been really great especially Sanjay bhai (Sanjay Bangar), our batting coach”.

That injury comes with its own story.

Nonetheless, a failure would have hurt him personally.

And Dhawan has done it with a bruised right palm, courtesy the dropped catch at first slip on Wednesday morning that gave Kaushal Silva a temporary lifeline.