India draw plenty of positives in Sri Lanka demolition

Sri Lanka’s batting under the pump

Coming into the series, Sri Lanka’s top-order was indeed one of their biggest strengths. Dimuth Karunaratne, the skipper was second-best to Rohit Sharma in the run-scoring charts and yet collectively, the top-order (1-3) couldn’t challenge the Indian bowlers. The openers - Karunaratne and Thirimanne - started well in the first innings but once Ravindra Jadeja walked into the attack, the visitors’ batting unit started to crumble. 

In comparison to India’s top-order (1-3), Sri Lanka’s top three only averaged 27.8 runs/wicket but it was arguably in the middle-order where the Test was differentiated. India, in their first innings, in the middle-order (4-7), averaged 114.3 runs/wicket, with the Islanders only averaging 26.1.

While the newbie Pathum Nissanka remained unbeaten in the first innings, scoring 61, it was Niroshan Dickwella in the second innings, with 51*. Going into the second Test in Bangalore, all eyes would be on the Sri Lankan batting unit, as they try to find the right balance between attacking and being defensive.

Ravindra Jadeja continues to highlight his importance

In Ravindra Jadeja’s absence, India did win a Test against New Zealand but in South Africa, it was evident that they were missing a crucial puzzle of their team. While being in a different format altogether, skipper Rohit had emphasized on the importance of the all-rounder, especially in the batting unit.

Walking out to bat at 228/5, Jadeja stitched three crucial partnerships –  with Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami – showing both defensive solidity and attacking gear. Alongside Pant, the left-hander contributed just 35 runs in the partnership of 104 but in his next two partnerships, he showed batting prowess never seen before. 

Also read: With heaven’s blessings, ‘Rockstar’ Jadeja puts on a show

Coming into this Test, some quarters of the fans still regarded Jadeja as a bowling all-rounder but this Test only went on to prove that he is the best all-rounder in Test cricket. He showed brilliant technique, then took the calculative risks and batted Sri Lanka out of the Test, with a 228-ball 175. 

On a track that wasn’t evidently turning, Jadeja walked in and turned the ball a mile, dismissing the visiting skipper Karunaratne. Eventually, the Saurashtra man ended with a nine-wicket haul, a score of 175, narrowly missing the record of becoming the only man in Test cricket to score 150 and pick a ten-wicket haul.

"Whenever I come here, I always get positive vibes. I was looking to build partnership with wicket. To be honest I don't know about stats [hundred and ten-for] but I am happy to do well with bat and ball. When you perform like this, you feel very confident," Jadeja said after winning the Player of the Match. 

The 33-year-old might have returned for the first time since the Test against New Zealand in Kanpur but what he showed, continued to highlight his importance in the setup. 

Understanding Jayant Yadav’s role in this Indian setup

India playing three spinners isn’t a big deal, India playing a third-spinner, who also is an all-rounder isn’t new either. But India employing two off-spinners in the same Test hasn’t been a regular affair. So, when Jayant Yadav was picked as the third-spinner, the question was over what exactly his role was in this Indian setup? 

"Someone like Jadeja and Ashwin have played a lot of cricket in India, have taken lots of wickets but what if they are not there? So we wanted to give Jayant also a chance," said Rohit in the post-match presentation.

It was clear that Rohit and the new management were keeping an eye on the future of the Indian team, considering that Ashwin is on the wrong side of the 30s. Neither in the first innings nor in the second did the 32-year-old Yadav make an impact with the ball, which makes it a slightly tricky situation for the all-rounder. 

With Axar Patel returning for the Bangalore Test, it would be back to bench for the off-spinner but the ultimate question still is, is Jayant Yadav going to find a place in the Test setup anytime soon? 

Bumrah-Shami’s fine bowling show

Prior to the Mohali Test, Jasprit Bumrah had just played two Tests at home, on surfaces that aided spinners – in Chennai and Ahmedabad. So, when he walked out to bowl on the second day of the Mohali Test, there were questions on whether it was necessary to play Bumrah. As it turned out, the 28-year-old produced a brilliant exhibition of pace bowling, taking a leaf out his white-ball book. Against Pathum Nissanka, the pacer pulled the ultimate bunny out of the hat, with a slower-ball that deceived the Sri Lanka batter to perfection. However, it was a no-ball. Later on, in the same spell, Bumrah dismissed Angelo Mathews. If day two was a day of brilliance, Bumrah repeated the same on day three, with another slower delivery seeing the back of Charith Asalanka, who had no clue.

Shami, from the other end, was a consistent thorn for Sri Lanka, with the way he brought the ball booming back into the right-hander. While the wickets for the pacers might be just five, Shami’s brilliance in the second innings was evident, when he stunned Sri Lankan skipper Karunaratne with a ball that straightened after seaming in.