India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd Test, Day 4: 5 things we learnt from the day

India at home are ruthless. They relentlessly bombard opposition with constant strikes and force them into submission. When Sri Lanka fought hard at Kolkata, there were hopes of a more competitive series. All that was dismantled when the Indian bowlers bossed them in the first innings and then strung together three hundreds and a double hundred.

The second innings was important to Sri Lanka as it was their last chance to display stomach for a fight. But it withered away on day 4 with Karunaratne falling to Jadeja and Mathews following suit. Except Chandimal, none of the others showed any intent of occupying the crease and their woes against Jadeja and Ashwin didn't help matters either. Eventually, they crumbled to an innings defeat at Nagpur.

#5 Karunaratne's fourth innings antics go missing

Dimuth Karunaratne is probably Lanka's most stable Test batsman at the moment

Karunaratne has a rather unique pattern of scoring in Test cricket. He averages 39.69 and 43.00 in the third and fourth innings of Test matches, where most batsmen struggle to get it up to 35. This includes four centuries and eight half-centuries. In contrast to this, his second innings average is below 20, surprising given the immense success he has had in the third and fourth innings'.

At Nagpur, though, the firefighter failed to rally together his colleagues and make India sweat. He inside edged Ravindra Jadeja's delivery to forward short-leg and departed for 18 in 45 balls. His wicket, as expected, triggered a collapse as Lanka sunk further at Nagpur.

#4 Thirimanne's lack of temperament gives voice to Mendis's recall ruckus

Mendis may not have enjoyed the best of times with the bat, but the talented no.3 should've been given a longer rope

Lahiru Thirimanne was picked to replace Kusal Mendis at the much valued no.3 spot in Test cricket. Flamboyant by nature and with a susceptible technique, Thirimanne composed a fine half-century at Kolkata but shades of his inconsistency crept up yet again here at Nagpur. The left-hander unfurled a nothing sweep shot in the first innings against Ashwin only to be bowled through the gate.

As if the embarrassment wasn't enough, Thirimanne scripted another ugly shot in the second innings. With Lanka striving to save the Test, the southpaw flayed at a wide Umesh Yadav delivery to edge to point for 23. That he had settled himself in at the wicket makes his shot even more appalling. Kusal Mendis's talent and temperament were quickly disposed of by Lanka but they might need to rethink their strategy.

#3 Chandimal's lonely war

Dinesh Chandimal has shouldered huge burden on this tour

Being Sri Lankan skipper at the moment is a humungous task. The team is a sinking ship, with little to boast of in all departments and Dinesh Chandimal, a newbie to the job, has had a tough time. He is the mainstay in Lanka's middle-order but has failed to rally together his men and fight.

That, however, hasn't deterred him from scoring runs. Following up a fighting half-century in the first innings, Chandimal witnessed from one end as one after another his irresponsible teammates threw their wickets away to hasten Lanka's collapse. He was the ninth man dismissed with 61 to his name.

#3 Ashwin - Jadeja roar back to form

Ashwin was at his exceptional best for India at Nagpur

Wicketless in the Kolkata Test, the spin twins, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja roared back to form, befuddling the Lankan batsmen with turn, dip and flight. Wonderful variations in flight and pace on the ball was a trademark of Ashwin-Jadeja's heist at Nagpur. If it was Ashwin plotting the downfall of the top order in the first innings, it was Jadeja to the fore in the second.

He removed the solid Karunaratne early on day 4 and proceeded to dominate Angelo Mathews, something which he has regularly done in this series. The former skipper fed a catch to mid-off and Jadeja had his second of the innings. Ashwin then stepped in and cleaned up the lower middle-order to pick up three.

#1 Back to drawing board for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has had little to celebrate in recent times

A ghastly performance with the bat in the second innings meant that Sri Lanka's woes against India continued. The Island is sorely in search of solace from their own disastrous shows and at the moment it seems never-ending. There is little intent in their cricket and they have surrendered far too meekly, uncharacteristic of Sri Lankan sides of the past.

The lack of application was evident in Lanka's top order on day 4 as one after the other, batsmen fell to horrendous shots. There was little maturity and thoughtfulness from the batsmen as they failed to string together partnerships despite the captain, Dinesh Chandimal, holding one end firm. More than India dominating them, the Nagpur Test was a tale of Lanka digging their own hole, yet again!