5 longest Test knocks against India 

#1 Sanath Jayasuriya - 578 balls

1st Test, India tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Aug 2-6, 1997

Jayasuriya registered his highest Test score of 340 runs off 578 balls against India at Colombo in 1997

When people talk of Sanath Jayasuriya, they often reflect on his exploits in the limited-overs format, but with an average of over 40 in Test cricket, the Sri Lankan legend proved that he had much more in his kitty than just blind hitting.

The Indian team has been at the receiving end of the big-hitting from the left-hander on many occasions with his highest score in both ODI and Test cricket coming against the Men in Blue.

While Sharjah was the venue when Jayasuriya raked up 189 against India in the final of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy final in 2000, Colombo was witness to his highest score in the Test format as he piled on 340 runs against India, making the opposition toil on the field for nearly two days with no joy.

He found an able partner in Roshan Mahanama who made 225 runs from 561 balls and though Jayasuriya faced only 17 balls more, the destructive ability Jayasuriya possesses made its mark as he scored 340 runs in an innings featuring 36 boundaries and two sixes.

He followed it up with a 226-ball 199 in the second Test and was deservedly named the Man-of-the-Series for his exploits and it is to the credit of a player who revolutionized the game of cricket that his innings that lasted 578 balls way back in 1997 is still the longest knock by an opposition player against India in Test history.