OTD: India defeated Sri Lanka by miles with Shikhar Dhawan's career best total in Test
After multiple underwhelming test performances, Sri Lanka was then far away from their top. India, the touring team, led by Virat Kohli, was oozing with confidence.
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After multiple underwhelming test performances, Sri Lanka was then far away from their top. India, the touring team, led by Virat Kohli, was oozing with confidence. Though, a cricket match can't be judged thoroughly with only pen and paper. So, the home team had a chance to shine. But they couldn't.
Team India was then on a different level. On July 29, 2017, India defeated Sri Lanka by 304 runs at Galle. Shikhar Dhawan was the man of the match for his first-innings 190-run knock, which was his career-best total in Test cricket.
Nuwan Pradeep's 6-wicket figure was overshadowed because of landmark performances by Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara. Both were rock solid in the first innings of the game, and both got 150-plus runs. Dhawan's 190 off 168 was well accompanied by Pujara's 153 off 265. Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Pandya in the middle scored half a century each. Because of multiple individual brilliance, India posted 600 in the first phase of the match.
Virat Kohli also joined the party with a century
Sri Lanka, in search of miracles, registered only 291. The situation got worse for them in the second innings when their skipper Rangana Herath and Asela Gunaratne did not come to bat because of injuries. Showing no mercy against the vulnerable Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli did not allow them to bat on a follow. In the process, Kohli himself smashed a ton. Sri Lanka needed 550 runs to save the match, which was by then out of their range, and India won the match by 304 runs.
"I really enjoyed batting over here. I just watched the ball and backed my game. There is a very healthy competition for the opening spot on the side, and it keeps me on my toes," Dhawan said after the match.
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