India vs Sri Lanka 2017, First Test: 5 Reasons why India humbled Sri Lanka at Galle

The first Test of India’s tour of Sri Lanka in Galle ended in a one-sided affair as the tourists managed to humble the hosts by a massive margin of 304 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match Test series. India dominated right from the word go and didn’t look like handing the advantage to their rivals at any stage of the game.

India racked up 600 runs in the first innings after which their bowlers bowled the Lankans out for 291 runs. India in their second innings scored 240 for the loss of three wickets to set Sri Lanka a target of 550 runs. However, the Lankan batsmen struggled throughout their innings and stumbled to a hefty defeat.

As we move ahead, we take you through the reasons behind India’s victory in the first Test.

#5 Batsmen’s consistency in both innings

In order to win a Test match, batsmen have to be consistent in order to get runs on the board, which will eventually give the bowlers something to work with. During both India’s first and second innings, the batsmen were equally consistent and never allowed the Sri Lankan bowlers get on top of them.

India posted a colossal total in the first innings as most of their batsmen contributed with the bat. In the first innings, while Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara scored big with centuries, other batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardik Pandya also chipped in with useful knocks.

After getting out cheaply in the first innings, Abhinav Mukund chipped in with a handy knock of 81 runs in India’s second. Virat Kohli also notched up his 17th Test ton with a quick-fire knock of 103 runs in 136 balls.

#4 Not giving wickets away to Rangana Herath

Rangana Herath struggled to make inroads with the ball

Before the commencement of the series, Rangana Herath was deemed to Sri Lanka’s trump card with the ball in hand. Herath, over the years, has been an integral part of the Sri Lankan bowling set-up with his wicket-taking abilities.

However, the Indian batsmen never allowed him to get under their skins by taking the attack to him right from the outset. In the first innings, the left arm spinner dished out 40 overs and went for 159 runs with a solitary wicket of Wriddhiman Saha in his kitty.

Even in the second innings, Herath bowled nine overs and went for 34 runs with no wickets to show for. Indian batsmen were pretty severe on him as he went for almost four runs per over, which is deemed to be expensive in Test cricket.

#3 Notable contributions from the middle

Virat Kohli registered his 17th Test ton

The middle-order is an essential part of the batting line-up as it carries forward the good work done by the top order. A team might lose the momentum if the middle-order falters after an impressive show by the opening batsmen.

In the first innings, after Shikhar Dhawan got them off to a flier, India needed the middle-order to come to the party. They did so in style as Pujara put his head down for a spectacular knock of 153 runs in 265 balls. Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Pandya’s half-centuries also helped the cause for India.

Ravichandran Ashwin also impressed with a brisk knock of 47 runs. With a massive lead on the board, India already had the upper hand after the first innings. Courtesy a batting spectacle by Virat Kohli, India was able to set Sri Lanka with a massive target to chase down.

#2 Collective performance by the bowlers

Jadeja picked up 6 wickets in the game

India piled on runs with the bat, but without the efforts of the bowlers, India might have struggled to get themselves to a victory. In the first innings, India used five bowlers and all of them shelled out wickets. Umesh Yadav was a tad expensive but provided India with the initial breakthrough with the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne.

Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of India’s bowlers in the first innings as he picked up three wickets for 67 runs. In the second innings, the bowlers were equally consistent as they were able to bundle out Sri Lanka for 245 runs.

Jadeja, once again, picked up three vital wickets, which included scalps of Angelo Matthews and Kusal Mendis. Ashwin also chipped in with three wickets of his own to drill the final nails in the coffin of Sri Lanka.

#1 Dhawan’s stupendous knock

Shikhar Dhawan was unlucky to not reach his double hundred

India’s tour of Sri Lanka got off to a grand start and it was Shikhar Dhawan’s bludgeoning knock of 198 runs from 168 balls that set the ball rolling for India. It was unfortunate for him to not accomplish the double hundred, but his knock was impactful enough to get India off to a blistering start.

During his knock, he smashed 31 boundaries and played at a stupendous strike rate of 113.09, which ripped the heart of the Sri Lankan bowling attack. He was severe on both fast-bowlers and the spinners as he blazed away to his fifth Test century in his 24th game.

Meanwhile, he also registered his highest individual score in Tests. His previous top score of 187 runs came against Australia in his debut Test match at Mohali in 2013.