Pant's day, India's day
India end the day at 357 for 6, looking formidable on a pitch that will start to break up soon. We leave you with the start of the report, and look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Here goes
Sri Lanka managed to deny Virat Kohli even a fifty in his 100th Test. They didn’t let Hanuma Vihari convert his fifty into a hundred in his 100th first-class match. By the end of the day, though, they might have regretted getting them out because it brought out Rishabh Pant to the middle, who delightfully went from 50 to 96 in 19 balls but missed out to be dismissed in the 90os for the fifth time in his career. India racked up 357 for 6 in just 85 overs. Sri Lanka’s limited attack stood exposed on a day-one pitch, which offered turn from full lengths and promised more in the coming days. Their lack of resources were apparent at the toss when they announced they were playing three fast bowlers on a track that the hosts picked three spinners.
27
12
10
10
Pant misses out
It will probably take a truck to get Rishabh Pant off the park as he has been bowled for 96. This is not the first time he has been out in the 90s, but I guess the big regret will be that he has got out defending and not playing the way Pant does. Batters such a Pant hate it when they get out defending. Nevertheless it has been a sensational innings in which he went from 50 to 96 in 19 balls.
22
13
7
30
Over No. 76, Embuldeniya to Pant
6
6
4
•
2
4
48
43
95
21
Fifty for Pant
One big six, one charge give to Lakmal, and then he settles into picking holes in a spread-out field. This is what the threat of Pant can do. Sri Lanka have been happy to give him singles since he arrived, and he has been happy to take them. And he has added 49 with Ravindra Jadeja too. India 277 for 5 in 75 overs.
15
6
6
2
De Silva gets Iyer
Just when it seems like Sri Lanka might be in a lot of trouble with Lahiru Kumara walking off, part-time offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva traps Shreyas Iyer lbw from round the wicket to give them some respite. India 228 for 5
16
10
11
19
Iyer, Pant put India back on track
Team-mates at Delhi Capitals at one point of time, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have pulled India back from that mini slide when they lost Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari together. They have looked unhurried but have thrown in the lofted shot now and then. The partnership is now 53 off 86. India 228 for 4 half an hour into the final session.
As we say that Lahiru Kumara walks off leaving the current over unfinished. The good news is, he has walked off, and quite briskly at that. Hopefully he will be back soon.
9
4
7
8
Sri Lanka find some control
It's time for tea, and Sri Lanka have found some semblance of control in that session, taking two wickets, both set batters, for 90 runs. A big improvement on the 109 for 2 in the first session. With the ball beginning to turn, and a long lower middle order to follow, you'd still say India are ahead in this game at 199 for 4 at tea on day one.
8
10
7
11
Fernando gets Vihari
A second loose drive away from the body in quick succession, and this time the ball tails back in to take the inside edge and hit the leg stump. The first one was a drop at point, but it also turned out to be a no-ball. However, Vishwa Fernando managed to trouble him ever since he went around the wicket. Just six runs off 15 balls from that angle, and now he has his man. Vihari gone for 58 off 128 after they managed to slow him down post his 50. India 175 for 4.
7
6
3
12
Kohli b Embuldeniya 45
Just nine mistakes in 76 balls. That's a control percentage of 88. However, the ninth of those is a fatal one. Virat Kohli goes back to a flatter trajectory, but the length is perfect: about six inches to a foot inside the dry band, pitching middle and off, turning enough to beat the outside edge but not to miss the off stump. Kohli is stunned. It is perhaps the first ball that has spun sharply. However, Kohli has played back to a full ball, which you see him rarely do. It is the trajectory that has done him in. However, you do hope that the first mistake you make, the first ball that turns sharply, gives you a warning sign and just misses the wicket. Not with Kohli in this run of form, though. So a hundred shall wait. He goes for 45 off 76. India 170 for 3.
8
12
8
38
Watch that front foot, Lasith
Lasith Embuldeniya just bowled the 29th no-ball of his career today, which means no spinner has oversteppped as many times as he has since his debut. Second on the list is Ravindra Jadeja with 27. Both are similar bowlers whose front foot lands and then drags back. Jadeja hardly used to be called before the no-balls went up to the third umpire. Only when they checked the replays on dismissals would he be called. In fact Jadeja has rarely been called for overstepping on the field. Ever since the decision has been left to technology, he has been called often.
7
6
5
13
8000 for Kohli
With his 38th run, Virat Kohli has now reached 8000 Test runs, the 14th-fastest overall in terms of innings played. He is the sixth Indian in the 8k club. India 158 for 2
23
18
10
4
Fifty for Vihari
Start of a new chapter for Hanuma Vihari, who has till now played only the difficult Tests for India. Now given a run at No. 3 in home conditions, Vihari has announced himself with style and composure. His 50 comes up in 93 balls, India 146 for in 36 overs.
18
14
10
6
Two sides of Punjab
4
2
3
1
Back after lunch
6
6
6
2
India's session
Normally you'd take two wickets in the first session when the opposition has chosen to bat but there are two thing sot this Sri Lanka effort. India have scored a whopping 109 runs in just 26 overs, and there doesn't seem to be an obvious method with which Sri Lanka are looking to get wickets. On a flat pitch for the seamers, they haven't been able to make the batters take risks for their runs.
Lasith Embuldeniya has bowled well, getting some drift and bowling good lengths, but he is the sole specialist spinner. Virat Kohli has made his way to 15 already, Hanuma Vihari is 30.
7
11
10
4
Two pitches in one
This pitch has become a bit of a curiosity but not for those familiar with Mohali and the curator Daljit Singh although he is retired now. This is not the first time he has rolled out such a pitch. Against South Africa in 2015-16 too, we had a flat surface but the good length area for the spinners was rough. They actually worked on it with brushes with a kind of metal brushes a day before the Test. There was also a Chennai pitch against Australia in 2012-13 that was selectively watered for the spinners' length to be left dry.
The beauty of this particular pitch is that the dry pitch is so full that you have pitch within a foot of the start of that patch or you will be driven. So as a spinner you have to be good enough and accurate enough to take advantage of it.
India 97 for 2 in the 22nd over, and Kohli has got into his work with a straight-driven boundary.
12
5
9
2
Time for Virat Kohli
Sri Lanka somehow find a way to get their second wicket of the session despite looking unable to string together enough good deliveries to cut down the scoring rate. Lasith Embuldeniya gets a touch of drift, pitches just inside the drier patch on the pitch, and the natural variation means the ball doesn't turn, beating the inside edge of a forward-defensive from Mayank Agarwal. Even as he is discussing whether to review or not, the crowd is chanting "Kohli, Kohli." Agarwal decides not to review. In comes Kohli at 80 for in the 19th over. Agarwal gone for 33 off 49.
8
4
7
5
Rohit and short ball: a quick story
Sometimes Test attacks feed your strength and pack the field there to get you out. Is that what is happening with Rohit Sharma? Three-four short balls in an over is not an execution error Test bowlers make. It seemed to be part of a plan. Here is an interesting thought from Shiva Jayaraman.
Rohit Sharma’s proficiency in playing the pull or hook is well known, but perhaps because he plays it so well, he can't NOT play the shots when fast bowler go short at him. But is it a percentage shot for him in Tests? From data since April 2018 with ESPNcricinfo, seven of Sharma’s 20 dismissals against pacers have come playing the pull or the hook. He’s scored 192 runs from those shots at a strike rate of 223, but does also average just 27.4. That’s 33 runs lower than his average of 60 against pacers when he’s not playing those shot.
13
3
2
8
Sri Lanka's selection
First hour in, and with no help for the seamers, the obvious question everyone is asking is, why have Sri Lanka picked three quicks and only one specialist spinner? I put that question to Andrew Fernando. Here's what he has to say. India 62 for 1 at first drinks.
So, Sri Lanka don’t actually have a lot of long-form spin-bowling depth at the moment. They are playing Lasith Embuldeniya who is considered the best red-ball spinner. But the only other specialist spinner they have with them in the squad is Praveen Jayawickrama, who is also slow left arm. Ramesh Mendis, the main offspinner, is injured with a fractured hand. Of course, they’ll get overs out of the part-time offspinners - Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka, which I’m sure is a fact that will strike fear into the hearts of the India top order. Anyway, essentially, this team combination is more a reflection of the limitations in Sri Lanka’s own spin-bowling resources. If he’d have been fit, Ramesh Mendis would definitely be playing this game.
8
4
4
5
Rohit finds long leg
After a quick, largely untroubled start, Rohit Sharma has played one pull shot too many. Two pulls for boundaries in that Lahiru Kumara over later, the third one gets too tight on the line, not allowing him to keep it down. He does nail the timing, though. It is just that he has found the sole fielder in the deep. A quick start for India: 52 for 1 in 9.5 overs, Rohit gone for 29 off 28.
3
5
2
7
First half hour negotiated
More than negotiated, in fact. Six boundaries in six overs already. The odd play and miss but there doesn't seem enough in the pitch for fast bowlers to trouble batters. Easy pace, not enough movement off the surface, and the swing is already gone. India 28 for 0 after six overs.
8
8
4
6
A time to celebrate
That photo is from Virat Kohli's debut. Out for just 4. Found out by the short ball on that tour of the West Indies. Wonder if he doubted himself then. He now has 100 Test caps. The 100th has come after a remarkably classy ceremony missing politicians and board officials. The coach of the team, a great of the game himself, presenting the cap to Kohli, who made sure his wife, his biggest support and ally, was present. His brother was in the stands. Quick speeches made. Respect from one legend to another, gratitude to team-mates, and most importantly an expression of pride at having reached the landmark in an era of relentless schedules. As Rahul Dravid told him, "Double it up."
21
21
7
2
Iyer, vihari get the nod; India bat
Rohit Sharma has won the toss in his first Test as captain, and has no hesitation batting first.
The two teams have a different idea of team composition. India have gone with three spinners: R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jayant Yadav. Sri Lanka have picked just one specialist spinner, two part-timers and three spinners. My suspicion is, they haven't read the pitch differently but have perhaps picked their best bowlers and not a spinner for the sake of picking a spinner.
Rohit had a difficult call to make in the batting order, and he has taken the conservative route of picking the two batters who last played for India. Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer have edged out Shubman Gill.
Sri Lanka welcome back Niroshan Dickwella, and have Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka helping out Lasith Embuldenya in the spin department.
India RG Sharma*, MA Agarwal, GH Vihari, V Kohli, SS Iyer, RR Pant†, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, J Yadav, Mohammed Shami, JJ Bumrah
Sri Lanka FDM Karunaratne*, HDRL Thirimanne, P Nissanka, AD Mathews, DM de Silva, KIC Asalanka, N Dickwella†, RAS Lakmal, L Embuldeniya, MVT Fernando, CBRLS Kumara
15
14
6
8
Test match morning
The anticipation of the first day of a Test. Welcome back, you have been missed.It is also Virat Kohli's 100th, and Sri Lanka's 300th. Toss in 10 minutes. We will set you up for the contest shortly. First up is the toss in 10 minutes.
18
30
18
2