India vs Sri Lanka 2017: 1st Test day 4, 5 talking points

Sri Lanka, set a mammoth 550 to win and a near two full days to survive the Test, lost by 304 runs in spite of Dimuth Karunaratne's spectacular effort to bring the Lankans back into the game. Jadeja and Ashwin took three wickets each as Karunaratne and Dickwella proved to be the only two to offer some resistance from the hosts. However, once the 101 run stand was broken, Lanka were all at sea.

Earlier, Virat Kohli had raced to his 17th Test hundred in the company of Ajinkya Rahane to set Lanka 550 for victory. Sri Lanka started off on a sad note, losing Upul Tharanga and Gunathilaka to poor shots before Mendis and Karunaratne offered some resistance. Jadeja broke through with two wickets including that of Mathews before Dickwella and the opener strung together a 101 run partnership.

Once Dickwella departed, the end was near and Ashwin dismissed Karunaratne for 97 before getting rid of Pradeep two balls later to seal the Test for India.

Brief Scores: India 600 (Dhawan 190, Pujara 153) & 240/3 (Kohli 103*, Mukund 81) beat Sri Lanka 291 (Perera 92, Jadeja 3/67) and 245 (Karunaratne 97, Jadeja 3/71, Ashwin 3/65)

Take a glance at the talking points from day 4 of the Galle Test.

#5 Kohli slams 17th Test century

Kohli notched up another chanceless hundred

Virat Kohli is a specialist when it comes to making opposition wither off. He has a superb conversion rate in Test cricket with his 14 half-centuries overshadowed by 17 Test tons. With India firmly in the driving seat in the Test match, Kohli had all the freedom to notch up another effortless ton.

That this century came after eight poor scores would do India a world of good given that the series has just started out. It was also his 10th Test ton as skipper. He started with fireworks on Day 4 with 51 runs added in 6.3 overs in the morning session as he went about setting up the declaration along with Ajinkya Rahane, with whom he completed 2000 runs in Test cricket.

#4 Tharanga reprieved but falls two balls later

Kohli was distraught after he shelled a sitter to reprieve Tharanga

Upul Tharanga had been quite unlucky in the first innings with his bizarre run-out coming at a time he was going at good pace. The second time around, Mohammad Shami came around the wicket and induced an outside edge that flew to Kohli in the slips.

The skipper, however, put down a sitter much to the delight of Tharanga. Kohli was seen absolutely distraught, even slamming his head against the turf in anger.

However, Shami made amends just two balls later when he forced Tharanga to play a cut shot with the ball quite close to his body. The left-hander inside edged onto the stumps as Kohli breathed a sigh of relief.

The situation called out for the Lankan batsmen to play circumspect but Tharanga's proactive mindset in times of turmoil out the hosts in trouble.

#3 Jadeja sizzles to dent Lankan middle-order

Jadeja broke through with two quick wickets including that of Angelo Mathews

Ravindra Jadeja is as deadly as they come as any Test progresses - one whose balls leave large puffs of dust bursting out of parched soil every time he lands the ball. But he has a nagging method which most batsmen find difficult to overcome and Lanka found out just why when he broke their resilience back with a couple of wickets.

Kusal Mendis, who had looked at home at the crease misjudged Jadeja's turn and seemingly edged one to the keeper although the umpire and Mendis felt otherwise. Saha and Jadeja were convinced and prompted Kohli to review the call.

Replays convinced that Mendis had in fact edged through. Mathews followed suit in what could only be termed as a moment of madness. He stepped out to Jadeja and miscued his shot as he a lofted it to backward point - not the kind of shot you play in such a situation.

#2 Karunaratne holds firm amid ruins

Karunaratne appeared in great nick before his dismissal proved to be the final nail in the coffin

The opening batsman had made a hideous call to review his leg before decision in the first innings when it was evident that the ball would clip the middle-stump. However, a much more mature Karunaratne was on display in the second innings. A resilient batsman with sound judgement outside his off-stump, Karunaratne is perfect for the Lankans to open the innings.

He knew that the situation demanded him to remain stable and calm and that is exactly what he did, even though traces of positivity were a welcome sign when most batsmen would prefer going into a shell. He went on to fall three short of his sixth Test hundred and Lanka lost their way soon afterwards.

#1 Dickwella sinks Lanka's hopes after promising stand

Dickwella gave Karunaratne some solid company before Ashwin got the better of him

Niroshan Dickwella is one of the most talented of Sri Lanka's recent recruits. A wicket-keeper batsman with an attacking instinct, Dickwella is an opener in limited-overs cricket but comes in at six or seven in Test cricket like most keepers. He walked in at 116/4 with Dimuth Karunaratne going strong at the other end.

A 101 run stand ensued which frustrated India but brought out many a smile in the Lankan dressing room. Other than Dickewella shelling out a tough chance to Rahane off the bowling of Hardik Pandya, the partnership was near flawless and raised Lanka's hopes of fighting out a draw.

All of that came to an end when Dickwella unfurled his favourite sweep against Ashwin's guile and faltered. The too edge was found and Dickwella's innings turned into another 'what could have been' for Sri Lanka.