India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd Test, Day 3: 5 things we learnt from the day

Virat Kohli smashed a double hundred while Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma hit hundreds as India piled up 610 on the board before opting to make the visitors bat again late on day 3. Ishant Sharma took two balls to send Sadeera Samarawickrama packing but Lanka remained unscathed thereafter in the remainder of the nine overs in the day.

Earlier, Kohli seemed to be in a hurry to seal the Test as he bullied the Lankan attack en route his fifth double ton in Test cricket. It came off 259 balls with Rohit Sharma providing able support from the other end. The Mumbaikar made a hundred of his own to push forward his case for the upcoming overseas tours.

#5 Pujara's strange hundred

Pujara's sedate century came a tad too slow perhaps

India had time on their hands - a pretty hand lead and more than two days to bowl at the Lankans. But perhaps what this Virat Kohli outfit is known to do - ruthlessness - was lacking. Pujara took his own, sweet time, picking his gaps, putting away the loose balls and leaving and defending quite a lot of them while Kohli raced past his three-figure mark in no time.

At one point, it seemed like the skipper would beat Pujara to the 150 mark. But the no.3 couldn't quite cross it as he was undone by a really full ball from Dasun Shanaka for 143. If he had indeed crossed that mark, it would have been his seventh score of 150 or more. But that was not to be today.

Although the ton came up sedate and slow, his mountain of runs before the South African tour would please the Indian management.

#4 Lankan bowlers toil away with little plan

Herath's woes against India continued

Sri Lanka's bowlers have had a horrible time bowling to Indian batsmen of late. Their spinners have been rendered ineffective by the fleet-footed Indian batsmen and the seamers, with the exception of Lakmal on most occasions, has lacked incision. With Lakmal looking off-colour, Sri Lanka lacked complete venom with the ball on day 3.

Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara milked the bowlers easily while the departure of the latter brought even more runs from both ends. Rohit Sharma, striking to save his Test career, and Kohli, in the kind of mood to middle anything thrown at him, flayed the lacklustre attack around. The only positive in the day for the Lankans was perhaps the dismissal of Ajinkya Rahane for 2.

#3 Ajinkya Rahane's form keeps falling

Rahane has looked completely out of touch in recent times

While most of the Indian Test batsmen have benefitted in terms of runs and average during the extended home season, Ajinkya Rahane has suffered. He is one of those rare batsmen in the Indian Test line-up who average more abroad than in India.

His average outside India stands at 53.44 while his home average is a dismal 36.89. With Vijay, Dhawan, Rahul, Kohli, Pujara and even Rohit Sharma finding some form, Rahane cut a poor ball from Dilruwan Perera straight to point.

This two-run dismissal follows poor returns in Kolkata and twin ducks in the Ranji Trophy.

#2 Elegant Kohli smashed fifth double century

Kohli hit his fifth double century in Tests

A slew of records were broken as Virat Kohli effortlessly notched up another double hundred, his fifth in Test cricket, making him the captain with most double hundreds in Test cricket (alongside Brian Lara). The Indian skipper was in a rampant mood and dismantled the Sri Lankan bowling with some audacious strokes all around the wicket.

The double ton came up in 259 balls as he amped up the strike rate in pursuit of increasing the lead and putting Lanka into bat as early as possible. He fell soon after his double century but Rohit Sharma carried on from the other end. This was Kohli's 10th 100+ score across formats this year, a record for captains (previously held by Ricky Ponting who had 9).

And there it is.... easy peasy... fifth double hundred for Virat Kohli in Test cricket without moving into fourth gear! #IndvSL

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 26, 2017

#1 Rohit Sharma vs Ajinkya Rahane: A realistic debate?

Rohit Sharma's stroke-filled century raises questions about his bench status in Test cricket

The Indian selectors are faced with yet another selection headache as Rohit Sharma smashed a Test ton to enhance his possibility of a place in the Test side when the South African tour gets underway in January. Rahane's indifferent form and Rohit's proficiency with the horizontal bat shots mean that the debate is getting closer to reality.

But should it really be a debate?

Rohit has had his chance in whites and has messed up his opportunities more often than not, other than the occasional burst of form against a weaker bowling attack. Rahane, on the other hand, has performed admirably well overseas and is a much more accomplished Test batsman. His recent form might be wavering but there is no need to raise a question as to who would play in South Africa. It has to Rahane. Period.