That’s it! The beautiful red-ball format between India and Sri Lanka comes to a close with India winning the series 1-0 with two draws in it. Sri Lanka would be certainly contended for saving the Test match by fighting out a rather competitive draw
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Though it was not the end India would have hoped for, they would be happy that they could muster a good series win at home before that all important tour against South Africa.
Sri Lanka did make some progress playing in the Indian conditions compared to the shambolic 3-0 whitewash that they had suffered at home. Their batsman showed great application and determination in the middle, digging out a draw in emphatic fashion on the last day of Kotla.
India:
#1. Murali Vijay – 8.5/10
Prolific opener punctuated by fluent innings. Though he didn’t make his presence count in the second innings, he absolutely gave everything in the first innings. His belligerent 155 showed his brilliance as a opener and India would be hoping that he could repeat some of these performances in South Africa as well.
#2. Shikhar Dhawan – 6.5/10
Despite missing out on essaying something big in the first innings, the attacking opener showed what he was capable of pulling off a vital 67 in the second innings.
#3. Cheteshwar Pujara – 5/10
Pujara, India’s most dependable batsman is raring to make milestones almost in every match. Shockingly, he couldn’t do that this match. His handy 49 in the 2nd innings helped India to add numbers for their target, but apart from that, he couldn’t really stamp his authority in the 3rd Test
#4 Virat Kohli (c) – 9/10
How is it so easy for a player like Virat Kohli to be the best in all formats and in all the games? He does that with utmost ease. The special King Kohli amazed everyone with his 6th double century, and India would be hoping that Kohli carries his glorious form to South Africa as well
He registered his highest Test score of 243. He also gave his best in the 2nd innings scoring a quick fire fifty. He is the player of the match and the player of the series.
#5. Ajinkya Rahane – 2/10
Rahane’s nightmare of single and double-digit scores continues to haunt him in the Indian conditions where his form is a tad scary before heading to the South African tour.
#6. Rohit Sharma – 8/10
Rohit Sharma has been one great enigma in Indian cricket, and being the late bloomer that he is, it is extremely refreshing to see him flourishing in Test cricket now. He has 4 fifty plus scores and a century to his name in the last 7 innings and he now gives India that option of maybe going with a extra batting option in South Africa.
#7. Ravichandran Ashwin – 7/10
Ashwin’s guile and trickery was on display in this test match, as he was bowling brilliantly on a pitch that did not offer much assistance to the spinners. He was getting a lot of drift due to the revolutions that he was putting on the ball, and it looks like Ashwin could come in really handy even on the unresponsive pitches of South Africa.
#8. Wriddhiman Saha (wk) – 7/10
Though he didn’t get a fair amount of chance to bat because of solid India’s batting, he did his best when it comes to street-smart wicketkeeping moves. He was involved in 5 dismissals.
#9. Ravindra Jadeja – 7.5/10
Ravindra Jadeja topped the bowlers’ charts and was the pick of the bowlers with his impressive tally of 5 wickets.
#10. Mohammed Shami – 7/10
Mohammed Shami stuck to his brillaint variations of line and length. Much to his work rate, he picked up three wickets to his name.
#11. Ishant Sharma – 7/10
It was just the Test series for Ishant Sharma to prove that he has got something left in him to make a real case for himself as a viable fast bowler. He made use of the conditions to good effect in the 1st innings to pick up 3 important wickets.
Sri Lanka:
#1. Dimuth Karunaratne – 1/10
Paltry scores of 0 and 13 by an opener always gives a bad impression to the team’s batsmen coming down the pecking order. This is something that he must look into before it is too late.
#2. Dilruwan Perera – 6/10
Dilrwan Perera who batted in the 1st innings scored a handy 42 to his name.
#3. Dhananjaya de Silva – 8/10
Dhananjaya was someone who upped his ante in the second innings following his batting fiasco of scoring 1 in the first innings. He was fantastic with his 119-run knock but was retired hurt later on.
#4. Angelo Mathews – 8/10
Angelo Mathews will remember that he stood alongside Chandimal to put a good partnership to save the team out of choppy waters. He scored a splendid 111 in the first innings but unfortunately, failed to hunker in the crease in the 2nd innings.
#5. Dinesh Chandimal (c) – 8.5/10
Dinesh Chandimal also batted really well alongside Mathews in the first innings. He topped the Lankan batting charts with 164 to his name. He tried his best in the 2nd innings to score 36 to his name.
#6. Sadeera Samarawickrama – 4/10
Having scored a 33 in the first innings, he has nothing much to boast about his numbers.
#7. Roshen Silva – 7/10
Roshen Silva might have got out for a duck in the first. But, he put up a fighting spirit alongside Norishan Dickwella. The copious zest he had towards saving the team was amazing. He scored a superb 74* to his name.
#8. Niroshan Dickwella (wk) – 5/10
Same case for Dickwella as well. He too got out for a duck in the first innings. He powered it up with a solid 44* alongside Roshen Silva to save the team.
#9. Suranga Lakmal – 4/10
With just one wicket to a bowler of good stature, he should rectify his bowling action as soon as possible.
#10. Lahiru Gamage – 6/10
Gamage picked up 3 wickets to his name. He was pretty decent to his bowling lengths.
#11. Lakshan Sandakan – 7/10
Lakshan Sandakan was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka. Having picked 4 in the first and 1 in the second innings, he was instrumental whenever he was called upon.
