India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd Test: Day 1, 5 talking points

India dominated a disgraceful Lankan outfit in a lopsided day of cricket at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Opting to bat first, India looked to dominate from the word go, and aided by unbeaten hundreds from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, ended the day on 344/3. Pujara was unbeaten on 128 while Rahane struck his sixth overseas hundred and remained not out at 103 runs.

Shikhar Dhawan, retained ahead of Abhinav Mukund, and Lokesh Rahul, back from injury, started the innings on a positive note before Dhawan fell to Dilruwan Perera. Rahul and Pujara carried on in the same vein and took India to lunch after which Rahul and skipper Virat Kohli fell in quick succession.

Then started a fabulous association between two players who are quickly filling in the void left by Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Rahane was all class and sublime timing while Pujara stepped out and meted spinners with disdain.

The manner in which the duo rotated strike and handled the Lankan spinners deserve special mention. Given the domineering manner in which India started this Test, Sri Lanka have a mountainous task ahead of them.

Brief Scores: India 344/3 (Pujara 128, Rahane 103, Perera 1/68)

Take a glance at the talking points of the day from SSC, Colombo.

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#5 Dhawan blasts before DRS sends him off

Chandimal got his first review as Test skipper spot on

Shikhar Dhawan started from where he left off at the Galle, thumping Herath over long-on off just the second over of the Test before cutting and pulling Pradeep for boundaries. It looked like Lanka were in for another Dhawan special given the impeccable timing of his shots.

He crashed five fours off Nuwan Pradeep, Lanka's best bowler at Galle, and looked in complete control of proceedings before he tried to sweep Dilruwan Perera off the first ball of his spell. The ball rapped him on the pads and a confident wicket-keeper forced Chandimal to go upstairs.

The review turned out to be a master stroke as Dhawan walked back for a 37 ball 35.

#4 Rahul's sixth consecutive half-century and mishap afterwards

Rahul looked in ominous touch, especially against the spinners

KL Rahul made his comeback to Test cricket memorable with a solid half-century, his sixth consecutive in Test cricket, equalling the feat of Rahul Dravid and Gundappa Viswanath, who are also incidentally from Karnataka. Rahul, who had missed the Galle Test, returned to the top of the order and showed little rust as he struck the ball beautifully.

He hit back to back boundaries off Herath to kick-start his innings before successfully reviewing a leg before call against him off the bowling of part-timer, Dimuth Karunaratne. He treated the spinners with adept footwork and neat wrist-work and looked set for a big one when Pujara cancelled a single half-way through to leave him stranded on 57.

#3 Kohli falls to a blinder

Herath got rid of Kohli early in his innings courtesy a brilliant take by Mathews

Sri Lanka badly needed to get back into the game after India dominated proceedings in the first session. Rahul was run-out soon but with Kohli and Pujara out in the middle, there was little room to relax. Herath, the veteran Lankan spinner spun once across the Indian skipper, who edged to Mathews at slip.

It wasn't a straight forward take with the ball rising upto Mathews's chest but the former Lankan captain held onto it with both hands to complete a spectacular effort. Kohli had just started out and was batting on 13 when this unfolded to spread relief among Lankan fans at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

#2 Pujara-Rahane counter attack with brisk partnership

Rahane and Pujara put on a double century partnership

India had lost quite a bit of momentum after the lunch break with Rahul and Kohli departing fairly close to one another. With Rahane and Pujara out in the middle and the game in the balance, one expected a dour, solid, dogged stand from the duo.

But Pujara and Rahane showed intent and pierced gaps with such regularity that the half-century stand came at run a ball.

There was no respite even after that with Pujara taking on Pushpakumara over mid-wicket and Rahane milking all the spinners. Runs came by quick and fast and Lanka had to resort to a more defensive mindset with India cruising.

The 100 run stand came in a 104 balls and the duo ambled along effortlessly. They doubled it by the end of the day with both batsmen stroking fine hundreds.

#1 Pujara and Rahane compile personal landmarks

Pujara smacked his third successive hundred against Sri Lanka

If the unbeaten 211 run stand wasn't enough, Rahane and Pujara composed fine individual hundreds to complete a terrible day on the field for the hosts. There was little leeway as two of India's best Test players struck a solid, impenetrable partnership, attacking spinners with such flamboyance and ease.

Pujara marked his 3rd consecutive hundred against Sri Lanka while Rahane made a ninth Test hundred and sixth overseas. That the middle-order batsman has more overseas hundreds than at home is an anomaly from an Indian point of view. With bigger challenges awaiting India, Rahane is a crucial member in the squad and this kind of form augers well. A tiring day 2 awaits Sri Lanka as the duo look well set for the big haul