India’s troubles in the Colombo Test against Sri Lanka became a cycle of one problem leading to another. After spending 243.4 overs in the field, India were unable to force a result as Sri Lanka held on for a hard-fought draw at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Sonal Dinusha was at the heart of Sri Lanka’s resistance. As India head coach Sairaj Bahutule described him at the end of Day 4, the left-hander proved to be a constant thorn in India’s side. However, the conditions at the SSC also made life difficult for Shubman Gill’s team.
On paper, the pitch appeared ideal for India’s three spinners. The average turn increased as the Test progressed, with the ball regularly turning sharply. However, turn alone did not make the surface difficult to bat on.
Gill explained that the slow nature of the pitch meant that some of the usual modes of dismissal were not really in play.
“We felt that on Day 3, 4 and 5, the mode of dismissals – LBW and bowled – were completely out of the game, because the ball that was turning, was turning very slow and with bounce. So only one mode of dismissal was left if the batters were defending, which is catch at silly point, short leg or slip.”
He further explained:
“As the day went, the wicket got even slower. It was not that the ball was not spinning. But on the ball that was spinning, the wickets were not in play at all. So as a batter, if you know that LBW and bowled – two modes of dismissals are not in play for the bowlers, then it becomes a little easier to bat.”
Gill backs decision to enforce the follow-on
India found themselves back on the field for such a long period largely because of their own decision to enforce the follow-on.
On Day 4, Saransh Jain picked up the first two wickets of his Test career as Sri Lanka were reduced to 14 runs short of avoiding the follow-on. With rain already affecting the game and concerns over how much play would be possible on the final two days, India decided to go for the win and send Sri Lanka back in to bat.
India had already spent 89.4 overs in the field at that stage, but Gill defended the decision and insisted that it did not backfire.
“I think we fielded for about 250 overs [243.4]. They bowled around 130 overs [138]. There are 450 overs in a match, so the 70 overs [68.2] that were lost in the middle were because of the rain. And we were also thinking whether Day 4 and Day 5 would even be possible.”
Gill said India had two options — bat for a session or two, score around 200 and set Sri Lanka a target of around 400, or enforce the follow-on and chase whatever target Sri Lanka could set.
“We wanted to take that chance. Whether we bat 1-1.5 sessions on Day 4, make 200 runs and give them a target of around 400 or give them a follow-on, and then whatever their lead goes to – 100 or more – we chase that quickly. We had these two options.”
He added:
“Everyone expected it to rain, so you can think about this decision in hindsight. But you have to take the best decision possible in whatever situation you are. So I don’t think it backfired.”
Gill also pointed out that India had to adjust their plans because the pitch did not offer the same chances of getting batters out as a typical turning surface.
“And like I said, we felt that when you play in India or any turning track where there is a lot of spin, usually all three modes of dismissal are in the game – caught behind, LBW, bowled. There are a lot of LBW and bowled. But we felt that wasn’t there in the game at all, so we had to change our plans.”
Dinusha forces India to rethink their plans
India began the morning session with several close-in fielders as they looked to force a breakthrough. However, Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha settled quickly and added 100 runs in the session, forcing Gill to change his approach.
With Sri Lanka scoring quickly and rain remaining a threat, India had to balance two priorities — taking wickets and preventing the lower order from scoring too freely.
Gill eventually pushed his fielders back to stop the batters from finding easy scoring opportunities, but that also meant India had to reduce the attacking pressure.
After Nuwantha was dismissed in the first over after lunch, India had one clear plan: get Dinusha on strike and attack the tailenders. However, the lower-order batters refused to take risks.
Prabath Jayasuriya faced 28 balls for two runs, while Lahiru Kumara occupied the crease for 90 deliveries, scoring 12.
Gill said India tried several ways to dismiss Dinusha, including targeting his sweep and reverse-sweep shots.
“We saw that he [Dinusha] scored a lot of runs square of the wicket with sweeps and reverse sweeps. And we had to put a fielder there. And every time when they batted, it was a very similar situation.”
He added:
“He [Dinusha] played really well, his defense was solid, he played some really good sweep shots. And in this match, I don’t think there was even a half-chance that he went to a fielder.”
Dinusha scored 173 runs through sweep shots without being dismissed during the two-Test series, highlighting just how effective that method was for the Sri Lankan batter.
India also tried using the short ball, but Gill felt the pitch did not provide enough pace to trouble Dinusha.
“We thought we can get him with pace but there wasn’t enough of it on the wicket. Someone like Prasidh was consistently bowling 135-140kmph and bowling bouncers but he was able to defend. So we could see there wasn’t enough pace in the wicket to challenge him again and again.”
Dinusha eventually faced 264 balls in the second innings, playing a key role in Sri Lanka’s effort to save the Test.
Gill gives credit to Sri Lanka
Despite India missing out on victory after posting 503/9 declared in the first innings, Gill gave credit to Sri Lanka for their resistance.
“I wouldn’t say it stung like a loss. But obviously if you score 500 runs in the first innings… after that when Day 2 ended, we had them at 8/2. Then we only had to take 18 wickets in three days. In any other situation, you will feel that you will win such a match.”
He added:
“So from the situation we were in, the way they got a draw is credit to them. It’s obviously disappointing because we hoped for a win, but we have to also give them credit where it is due.”
Gill also felt India had been in control for most of the series.
“Apart from today, if we look at the last 8-9 days of cricket, I think we were on top everyday. And when you’re playing Test cricket at someone else’s home, it’s not that easy. They’re also here to play, it’s their home conditions, a lot of people take that for granted.”
WTC qualification still in India’s hands
The draw has complicated India’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. India currently sit fifth in the standings with a points percentage of 51.52%.
They will next travel to New Zealand for a two-Test series in October before hosting Australia in a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy early next year.
Gill, however, remains confident that India can still make the top two.
“I still think we’ve got a pretty good chance to qualify for the WTC. If we play the New Zealand series well. And then hopefully, by the time Australia series come, we just have to win the series [to reach the final].”
He added:
“If we’re in a situation where we just have to win the series I think we’ll be in a good position to qualify.”
