India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 1st Test, day 4: 5 things we learnt from the day

A spectacular 166 run opening stand between Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan put India right back in the game after the visitors put up a 122 run first innings lead. courtesy a late fight from Rangana Herath. The amazing turnaround seemed to have put Lanka in the driving seat on day 4 before Dhawan and Rahul thwarted all that belief with an aggressive stand.

Earlier, Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were impeccable with their lines and created havoc in the Sri Lankan middle-order. Shami sent Dickwella and Chandimal back in quick succession before Herath resisted the bowlers with a composed half-century, gritting it out in the middle and showing fight that his teammates failed to show. But it remains to be seen it the knock would alter the course of this game.

#5 Dickwella-Chandimal clear the mess

Dickwella unfurled his shots in an entertaining knock

Niroshan Dickwella and Dinesh Chandimal shored up Sri Lanka early on Day 4 with what looked like a solid partnership. Chandimal was circumspect and watchful while Dickwella compounded India's woes with some delightful strokes against the seamers. Just when it looked like the pair would hurt India further, Shami produced a peach to get rid of the keeper batsman.

New man, Dasun Shanaka fell soon after, and Chandimal left in the next over edging Shami, who was persistently pestering his off-stump, to the keeper. Both the middle-order batsmen had a good start but failed to convert it into something substantial.

#4 Dilruwan Perera rekindles brain fade controversy

Dilruwan Perera invoked lot of criticism with his pretty late review after looking up at the dressing room

It is less than eight months since Steven Smith erupted furore by seeking the advice of the dressing room in making a review decision. That incident turned sour as Kohli and the whole Indian team opposed the Aussie skipper but Perera seemed completely oblivious to all this when he walked off after Shami trapped him in front only to turn back and review after seeing raised hands from the dressing room.

Interestingly, Herath had sent Perera on his way when he discussed with his partner for a review. But the turnaround was quick as signals came from the dressing room and Perera reviewed what turned out to be an incorrect decision from the umpire. The Lankan was saved and continued to resist with Herath as the duo frustrated the Indians.

@bhogleharsha @ICC when a batsman take a sigh of signal from dressing room??not a good sign for the game of cricket. As you challenging spirit of umpiring ?#IndvsSL #EdenGardens pic.twitter.com/dYqKFhQCZw

— satya (@yogeshsatya4545) November 19, 2017

#3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami pick up four apiece

Shami overcame a poor hamstring to deliver a spectacular spell

Mohammed Shami had hobbled off the field on Saturday with a recurring hamstring trouble but showed little signs of discomfort as he steamed in on Sunday and nipped out four wickets in an exhilarating spell of fast bowling. He had able support from Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the other end, who also picked up a four-wicket haul.

Shami accounted for the big scalps of Niroshan Dickwella and Dinesh Chandimal while Bhuvneshwar got rid of the annoying Rangana Herath, who had notched up a half-century to frustrate the Indians. The duo bowled in tandem and constantly swung and moved the ball off the seam to trouble the Lankan batsmen.

#2 Rangana Herath resists with an uncanny half-century

Herath gave Lanka a handy lead with a timely fifty

This Kolkata pitch was not one where you'd expect Rangana Herath to play a massive role on. He loves the dry, dusty bowls of the sub-continent and has thrived there all his career. Yet, the veteran spinner found a way to mark his impression in the game. He played some ugly, yet effective, shots to bring up a fine half-century while taking Lanka to a 100+ lead.

Such was the manner in which Bhuvneshwar and Shami were bowling that anything more than a 50 run lead looked dim for the visitors. But Rangana Herath, batting with the doggedness of Karunaratne and the strangeness of Niroshan Dickwella, compiled a spectacular half-century to take Sri Lanka to a worthy lead. He eventually fell for 67 to Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

#1 Rahul-Dhawan post century partnership

Rahul did his chances for South Africa no harm with a fluent half-century

Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan put up the first century partnership for India in the second innings of a Test since 2010 (Gambhir and Sehwag against South Africa in Centurion) as India put themselves back in the contest at Eden Gardens on Day 4 of the first Test. The duo were adept at handling a Lankan attack that missed the sharpness of Suranga Lakmal for a brief period.

On a flatter pitch compared to day 1, Rahul and Dhawan had no problems digging into the Lankan bowlers. Runs came thick and fast as India erased the first innings deficit pretty easily. Dhawan was eventually dismissed by Shanaka to give the Lankans a bit of relief by stumps on day 4.