5 memorable India and Sri Lanka Encounters in Tests

India and Sri Lanka, the two Asian superpowers, have produced some of the most gripping Test affairs over the years. They have 35 years of Test history between them in which they have played 38 Test matches. India have hosted 21 of those while Sri Lanka hosted 17.

Both sides have phenomenal records on their home turfs. India have never lost a Test match against Sri Lanka at home. They have won 10 out of the 17 Tests on home soil. Although, Sri Lanka have also dominated India at their own den, India fare slightly better than them in away matches. Out of the 21 Tests played on the Lankan soil, India have won six of them. Sri Lanka have won seven of those while drawing eight.

However, Sri Lanka didn’t have the best of times in their last two series against India at home. Three out of India’s six Test victories in Sri Lanka have come in the last five years. They drew the 2010 Series 1-1 and won the last series in 2015 by a 2-1 margin.

All the Lankan stalwarts, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan, have now retired and they look no match for India at the moment. There is a high possibility that India might outplay Sri Lanka in the upcoming Test series. Let us now go down the memory lane and have a look at five of the most memorable India-Sri Lanka encounters in Tests over the years.

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#1 2nd Test: Sri Lanka v India at Colombo (PSS), August 20-24, 2015

India were 1-0 down in the three match series after they were beaten in the first match at Galle by 63 runs. However, Virat Kohli and Co. shrugged off the disappointment of defeat as they made a strong comeback in the second Test at the P Sara Oval in Colombo.

Winning the toss, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli chose to bat first on a pitch that was supposed to aid the spinners from the second day onward. India found themselves in deep trouble having lost Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane on a score of just 12 runs.

However, a magnificent knock of 108 runs from KL Rahul and half-centuries from each of Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha helped India to a first innings total of 393 runs. Rangana Herath was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with figures of 25-3-81-4.

Extra cover: Dinesh Chandimal ruled out of first India Test

Sri Lanka in reply could only manage 306 runs in their first innings. It was because of a superb knock of 102 runs from Dinesh Chandimal and half centuries from Kaushal Silva (51) and Lahiru Thirrimanne (62) that Sri Lanka could get even that close to India’s total. Amit Mishra returned with the best figures among the India bowlers as he claimed 4/43 in his 21 overs.

The pitch had become quite difficult to bat on. However,Vijay and Rahane stepped up this time as all other Indian batsmen failed to contribute. Vijay’s 82 and Rahane’s 126 helped India to a second innings total of 325. That helped India to set a target of 413 runs to chase for Sri Lanka.

This time, however, there was no one who could save the sinking Lankan ship as each and every batsman succumbed to the spin of Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin. The duo picked up eight wickets between them to bundle out the Lankans out for a mere 134 runs. India, thus, won the match by a mammoth margin of 278 runs and levelled the 3-match series 1-1. KL Rahul was adjudged the ‘Player of the match’ for his superb century in the first innings.

#2 3rd Test: Sri Lanka v India at Colombo (PSS), Aug 3-7, 2010

Second Test - New Zealand v India: Day 5

It was yet another test of India’s nerves as they were 1-0 down coming into the third and final match of the three match series in 2010. Winning the toss, the then Sri Lankan skipper, Kumar Sangakkara, had elected to bat first. They rode on a century from Thilan Samaraweera (137) and fifties from Mahela Jayawardene (56) and Kumar Sangakkara (75) to post a total of 425 runs on the board.

India in reply, took an 11-run lead riding on a century from Virender Sehwag (109) and fifties from VVS Laxman (56) and Suresh Raina (62). Some useful lower order contributions from Abhimanyu Mithun (46) and Amit Mishra (40) also helped their cause.

Sri Lanka were on the brink of being bowled out for a total of around 100 runs in the second innings. They were 125/8 with Thilan Samaraweera stranded at the other end, being unable to find partners who could stay with him. However, Ajantha Mendis arrived at the scene and surprised everyone. He played a magnificent knock of 78 runs and stitched a partnership of 118 runs for the ninth wicket with Samaraweera. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 267 with Samaraweera being the top scorer with a knock of 83 runs.

India were set a target of 257 runs. However, they were in trouble soon as they lost four wickets for just 62 runs. However, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, two of India’s most experienced batsmen, came to the rescue with a 109-run stand between them. Tendulkar was eventually dismissed for 56 runs with India’s score reading 171/5. However, with an able partner in Suresh Raina (41*) at the other end, Laxman saw India home with a magnificent knock of 109*. India thus won the match by five wickets and levelled the three-match series 1-1. Laxman was deservedly adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for his terrific century.

#3 1st Test, India tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Jul 23-Jul 2008

Muttaih Muralitharan

This was one out of those seven occasions when Sri Lanka had humbled India in Tests. Batting first, Sri Lanka rode on four centuries from Malinda Warnapura (115), Mahela Jayawardene (136), Thilan Samaraweera (127) and Tilakaratne Dilshan (125) to declare their innings on 600/6.

The Lankan Spin duo of Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan then outplayed the Indian batsmen as the shared nine wickets between them. India were eventually bowled-out for 226 runs and VVS Laxman (56) was the only batsman to go past the score of 50.

They were unable to avoid the follow-on. India began the second innings with the hopes of saving the Test match. It turned out to be futile once again as Mendis and Muralitharan ripped apart the Indian batting line-up, sharing 10 wickets between them this time. India were eventually bowled out for 138 runs as Sri Lanka won the match by a mammoth margin of an innings and 239 runs. Muttiah Muralitharan was deservedly adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for his impressive match figures of 10/110.

#4 2nd Test: Sri Lanka v India at Galle, Jul 31-Aug 3, 2008

First Test - India v South Africa: Day 3

It was the second Test match of the 2008 series. India had already lost the first match at the SSC in Colombo. And they were determined to make their way back into the series. Winning the toss, the then Indian Captain, Anil Kumble, chose to bat first. The Indian openers, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, got India off to a flying start with a 167-run stand between them. However, once Gambhir departed for 56, Sehwag started running out of partners. Although, he made his way to a terrific double hundred, an unbeaten innings of 201 runs, India got bowled out for only 329 runs as Ajantha Mendis claimed 6/117.

The Indian bowlers responded to the situation well as they restricted Sri Lanka to a score of 292 runs in their first innings, thus gaining a lead of 37 runs. Kumar Sangakkara, Malinda Warnapura and Mahela Jayawardene were the only players to go past the score of fifty. Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 6/102.

Extra cover: SK Elite: Virender Sehwag's 201 not out against Sri Lanka at Galle

The same story followed for India in the second innings as Sehwag (50) and Gambhir (74) were the only batsmen who seemed to be at ease against the Lankan bowlers. Once they departed with India’s score reading 144/2, the rest of the batsmen fell like a pack of cards. India lost 8/125 as they were bowled out for 269 runs, thus setting Sri Lanka a target of 317 runs.

However, the Indian bowlers once again rose to the occasion and bowled Sri Lanka out for a paltry 136 runs. Thilan samaraweera was the only one who offered some resistance with a knock of 67 runs. Harbhajan Singh was once again fabulous as he picked up 4/51 with the ball. India thus won the match by 170 runs and Virender Sehwag was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’.

#5 3rd Test, India tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Aug 29-Sep 2, 2001

Australia v Sri Lanka: 3rd Test, Day 4

It was the third Test between India and Sri Lanka of the 2001 series. Sri Lanka were on a roll and India were under immense pressure to make a comeback into the series. However, it only added to their woes.

Sadagoppan Ramesh (46) and Shiv Sunder Das (59) got India off to a good start with an opening partnership of 97 runs in the first innings. However, Muttiah Muralitharan came on to bowl and ran through the Indian batting line-up with a spell of 8/87. India were all out for 234 runs.

Sri Lanka posted a huge total of 610/6d on the board courtesy of centuries from Marvan Atapattu (108), Mahela Jayawardene (139), Hasan Tilakaratne (136) and Thilan Samaraweera (103) in their first innings. The match already looked in Sri Lanka’s favour as they had a lead of 376 runs.

Ramesh (55) and Das (68) once again raised India’s hopes of saving the match with an opening stand of 107 runs. However, once they departed, the story was the same once again. India were eventually bowled out for 299 runs as Sri Lanka won by an innings and 77 runs. Muttiah Muralitharan was declared the ‘Player of the match’ for his match figures of 11/196.