IND Vs SL 2nd Test: India Reach 200-Plus, Pant And Padikkal Look To Build A Big Score

Colombo: The series between India and Sri Lanka is to be decided on the pitch of Sinhalese Sports Club. The toss went in favour of India and captain Shubman Gill chose to bat without thinking. The start was not good, but what happened after that was no less than a headache for the Sri Lankan bowlers; Devdutt Padikkal and Gill together added 120 runs, and by tea time the scoreboard was flashing 187/3.

How did the first two wickets fall?

Matters worsened in the tenth over itself. KL Rahul was caught by the keeper on the ball of Lahiru Kumara on the score of 18. It didn't take long and Yashasvi Jaiswal was gone too – bowled by Asitha Fernando after scoring 45 runs off 53 balls. By lunch, India had lost two wickets and scored 88 runs.

How did Padikkal-Gill handle the innings?

Padikkal and Gill, who came on the field after lunch, avoided risky shots. Both of them gave time to the ball, maintained the run pace and slowly kept moving the scoreboard forward. This trend is not new for Padikkal – he had scored 167 runs in the last Test in Galle, and here too he looked in the same rhythm.

How did Gill's wicket fall?

Gill completed his half-century with the help of six fours in 108 balls, but luck ran out just before tea. Asitha sat firmly on Fernando's outgoing ball and was caught at slip. The third wicket fell at the score of 187, and the Padikkal-Gill partnership came to an end there.

Did this partnership turn the match?

India was definitely under pressure after the fall of two quick wickets, but this 120-run partnership completely changed the situation. Sri Lankan bowlers kept yearning for wickets, and India did not even let the run rate fall during this period.

What changed in the team?

Kuldeep Yadav was sat out, with Saransh Jain getting the Test cap in his place. The team management is not allowing Kuldeep to remain fully fit. With the arrival of Saransh, the depth in batting also increased and an additional option of spin was also available.

What happened in the first test?

India had defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle, scoring 462 runs in the first innings, in which Padikkal's innings of 167 runs was the biggest attraction. With this win, India is leading 1-0 in the series.

How difficult is it for Sri Lanka to make a comeback?

The difficulty is quite big. Kusal Mendis is out with a hamstring injury, Dinesh Chandimal Galle is ruled out due to the concussion he sustained in the Test, and Pathum Nissanka is also not fit. That means Sri Lanka has come without its three main batsmen, and hopes are pinned on the young players only.

Where are India's eyes now?

The lead has already been gained by winning the first test. In Colombo too, the team has recovered from the initial setbacks and has reached a strong position. Now the effort is to reach a big score so that the pressure on Sri Lanka increases and the series can be completely captured.