By Slogger
First publised on 2022-03-07 07:52:17
After the West Indies, it is now the turn of Sri Lanka to be at the receiving end of Indiaâs absolute dominance in all formats of the game. India outplayed Sri Lanka in the three T20s and the first Test of the 2-match series also ended disastrously for the Lankans. They lost the match by an innings and 222 inside three days after a spineless performance in the face of India's massive first innings score of 574 for 8 declared.
When India batted in their only innings, the Lankans allowed the batters too many liberties to score at a fast pace. All Indian batters got a start but except for Jadeja, could not convert it into a big innings. Jadeja was in phenomenal touch and went on to score 175 not out. He was practically unstoppable after he reached his century. The way he was batting, Jadeja should have been allowed to go on and get a double ton as it was just the second day of the Test.
The Lankans had no answers to the Indian spin duo of R Ashwin and Jadeja who took 15 wickets among themselves in both the innings. None of Lankan batters showed the inclination to remain at the wicket and build partnerships. The pitch was spinning but it was not all that difficult to bat on. It was the guile of the Indian spinners and the burden of facing a huge total, along with lack of experience that did then in.
The Lankans will have to show a lot more resolve if they want to take the fight to the Indian camp in the second Test. The pitches in Lanka are not very different from those in India and the Lankans also have good spinners back home. Hence it is surprising that they are putting up such a miserable performance.