India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 3rd Test, Day 5: 5 things we learnt

A terrific, unexpected fightback from Sri Lanka saw them hang on by five wickets to ensure a draw in the Delhi Test. Amidst all the smog-controversy, two youngsters - Dhananjaya de Silva and Roshen Silva - showed the way for the visitors with defiant knocks. Dhananjaya scored a hundred while Silva smashed a half-century, ably supported by Niroshan Dickwella.

India's bowlers failed to get through the Lankan middle-order which offered more resistance than it has done all series. It was impressive watching the Lankans bat solidly and pushing India on the back-foot. Eventually, the Test ended in an exciting draw although India took the series honours (1-0) courtesy their win at Nagpur.

#5 Jadeja strikes sent Lanka spiralling down

Jadeja picked up two vital wickets early on day 5

Sri Lanka's rescue act hopes in the second innings rested on Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, the duo who had strung together a 181-run stand in the first innings to resist India. Those ideas were thwarted by India's unheralded spin bowler, living in the shadow of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja.

The Saurashtrian has had as good a time as Ashwin in Indian conditions but isn't talked about in the same wavelength as Ashwin. On day 5, Mathews's prod off Jadeja eked out an edge and the catch was taken at first slip. Chandimal almost followed Mathews, with Jadeja's dream delivery taking away the off-pole of the skipper, but replays showed that the spinner had overstepped.

#4 Chandimal's dramatic stay at the crease

Dinesh Chandimal's stay at the crease on day 5 was eventful

A sizzling 164 in the first innings amidst all the chaos shows the kind of batsman Dinesh Chandimal is. He had single-handedly helped resuscitate Sri Lanka's innings then but needed a stroke of luck to try and replicate something similar in the second innings. Ravindra Jadeja had him bowled with a peach of a delivery that hit the top of off-stump, but replays revealed that the Indian had overstepped.

Chandimal was let off the hook, and in the company of a technically composed Dhananjaya de Silva, looked more solid than ever. The 100 run stand came with Chandimal's contribution just 34 in it. But he wasn't here to score runs. Instead, he was there to hold one end up while de Silva tried to milk the bowlers. All of that worked until Ravichandran Ashwin delivered another cracker of a delivery to send Chandimal's on his way.

#3 Dhananjaya de Silva's spectacular knock

De Silva underlined the value of backing youngsters with his cracking century

Sri Lanka's policy of not backing their younger group of players suffered a major blow as Dhananjaya de Silva, one among the aforementioned group, plundered a fabulous hundred against India on day 5 while trying to save the Test.

While the focus was on defensive batting with India needing just seven wickets to wrap up the Test, de Silva stuck to his natural game, played some elegant shots and brought up his third Test hundred. However, a glute muscle injury interrupted his knock after the ton and he had to walk off the field.

#2 Roshen Silva carries on from where de Silva left off

Roshen Silva shone on his debut with his stonewalling

Debutant Roshen Silva made a U-turn in his Test career with a superb half-century after he made a duck in the first innings. While he started off in the company of Dhananjaya de Silva, who was an epitome of class, Silva soon lost his partner to an injury and was stuck with Niroshan Dickwella, who knew a thing or two about annoying the Indians, albeit differently.

Nothing deterred the debutant, though, as he stood his ground, brought out some proper cricketing shots, negotiated the menacing pair of Ashwin and Jadeja and compiled a classy half-century. Dickwella counter-attacking from one end also helped the youngster settle down but the manner in which he weathered the Indian attack on a fifth-day pitch deserves special mention.

#1 Back your youngsters, Sri Lanka

Niroshan Dickwella might need to tweak his attitude a touch but his batting has been a joy to watch

Sri Lanka have been in an abyss all through the last two years but if they are to pick themselves back up, they need to back their youngsters and vehemently. The omission of Kusal Mendis does not support this theory and neither does Dhananjaya de Silva's long absence from the Test squad.

The current crop of players playing this Test has some pretty talented players. Roshen Silva underlined his value with a cracking debut knock. Lakshan Sandakan was among the wickets and De Silva led the fightback with a magnificent ton. If Lanka need to come back or being what they were, they need to hold onto their youngsters through thick and thin.