IND vs SL 2022: 3 observations from 2nd Test as India take control after Day 1

As many as 16 wickets fell on Day 1 of the second test match between India and Sri Lanka on Saturday. This is the most wickets to have fallen on Day 1 in a pink ball Test match. The visitors ended the day trailing by 166 runs with four wickets remaining in the first innings.

The pitch offered a lot of assistance to the spinners, and Sri Lanka took control as they picked up four quick wickets in the first session. However, Shreyas Iyer was superb on a tough pitch and played a decisive innings of 92.

The hosts ended their first innings on 252 and the Lankans will be disappointed with the way they leaked runs on a very helpful pitch. They were hurtled along at a run rate of 4.25 an over as the hosts ended up with 60-70 runs above the par score.

The Indian bowlers then stepped up and when stumps were drawn, Sri Lanka were tottering at 86/6.

On that note, let's take a look at three observations from the first day of the Test:

3.) An 'entertaining' pitch

Sri Lanka spinners were excellent in 1st session

The pitch on offer in Bengaluru started assisting the spinners early on Day 1. The home side batted first and lost their first wicket to a run-out before the spinners took control. Rohit Sharma, Hanuma Vihari and Virat Kohli all fell before tea.

Rishabh Pant counter-attacked with 39 runs off 26 balls, but he too fell against the spinning ball. Ravindra Jadeja failed with the bat, and the onus was then on Iyer, who played the perfect innings to power India to 252.

The pitch seemed to settle under lights as the home spinners could not extract much turn from the surface. However, Sri Lanka struggled against the pacers and are now tottering at the end of the first day.

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2.) Indian pacers take control

Bumrah and Shami were excellent under lights

The pitch offered considerable assistance to the spinners and all eyes were on the Indian trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar Patel. However, pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah stepped up and extracted a lot of life from the surface.

They sliced through Sri Lanka's top order with a lot of seam and swing movement. Bumrah and Shami combined to pick up the first four wickets and were proving to be too hot to handle for the Sri Lankan top order. Bumrah then came towards the end of the day and prized out Angelo Mathews to give the hosts full control of the match.

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1.) Shreyas Iyer show

Shreyas Iyer was tremendous on a tough pitch

India lost four wickets in the first session and Pant and Jadeja walked back after the break. There was a lot of onus on Shreyas Iyer and the young batter displayed tremendous temperament.

With a mix of caution and aggression, Iyer stitched important partnerships with R Ashwin and Axar Patel and attacked the spinners to zoom to 92. He was the difference between the two sides at the end of Day 1.

"I didn't want to get out defending the ball because there are more chances of getting out that way rather than scoring runs. In my mind the intent had to be positive and that's what I had decided before going out to bat," Iyer said at the end of the day's play.