Sri Lanka v India, 2nd Test: Indian Players Ratings

India continued to flex their muscles in Test Cricket as they won the Second Test match at Colombo comprehensively by an innings and 53 runs. The visitors outplayed the Sri Lankans in all departments of the game in the first innings as they posted a mammoth first innings score of 622/9 and dismissed the hosts for a paltry 183. Virat Kohli had no hesitation to enforce the follow on, looking at the conditions of the surface.

However, Sri Lanka managed to salvage some pride after stellar performances from Mendis and Karunaratne. The home side stretched the inevitable as they took the game deep into the fourth day. In the end, it was too much to ask for from the struggling Sri Lankans and India won its 8th consecutive Test series. Jadeja was awarded the man of the match for his all round efforts.

Let us look at the Indian Player Ratings for the 2nd Test match

Shikhar Dhawan – 5/10

Indian swashbuckling opener, after a memorable Test match at Galle, looked in breezy touch for his knock of 35 which came off just 37 deliveries, as he smashed five boundaries and a six in his innings. He looked unstoppable before his overconfidence resulted in his fall of wicket. He tried to sweep Dilruwan Perera, the very first ball from the off spinner. He later dropped a crucial catch of Kusal Mendis in the second innings when he was at 1. Mendis went on to score a century.

KL Rahul – 6/10

KL Rahul, who made a comeback on the International stage after a while, did not show any sign of rust as he scored his sixth consecutive half century in Test. His brisk innings of 57 off 82 balls contained seven elegant boundaries. He looked determined to get the monkey off his back by converting his half century into a three figure score before he was involved in a miscommunication with Pujara, which resulted in his dismissal. He also took a blinder at Forward short leg to dismiss Upul Tharanga.

Cheteshwar Pujara – 9/10

After dismissing Rahul, Pujara took it upon himself to do the bulk of the scoring and brought up his 14th Test ton, following the century at Colombo. Together with Rahane, the duo took India to the driving seat with their mammoth partnership of 217 runs. Pujara’s 133 came at a strike rate of 57 and contained 11 boundaries and 1 six.

Virat Kohli – 5/10

Even though Virat Kohli was dismissed early, he was involved in the match throughout its entirety with his spirited captaincy. The move to bring Pandya in the second innings, after the partnership between Karunaratne and Mendis, paid rich dividends. Kohli also brought Shami in the first innings as the speedster claimed a couple of wickets.

Ajinkya Rahane – 9/10

India was precariously placed at 133/3 after Kohli was dismissed and Rahane stitched a vital partnership with Pujara to save the day for India yet again. He brought up a Test ton after a period of 18 innings and 10 Test matches, carrying on the good form from the Carribean. He also was as safe as a house at slips, claiming all the low catches.

Ravichandran Ashwin – 9/10

After Pujara and Rahane were dismissed early in Day 2, the Indian hope of reaching the 600 mark looked distant. However, it was Ashwin’s effortless innings of 54 along with further contribution lower down the order, took India to the 600 mark. He also brought up his 26th 5-wickets haul in the first innings, creating havoc in the Sri Lankan camp. He followed it up a couple of wickets in the second innings. All in all, it was a great all round effort from Ravi Ashwin.

Wriddhiman Saha – 8.5/10

Saha contributed with both bat and the gloves in the Indian win today. He scored a gutsy knock of 67 to take the game further away from the Lankans. It was also a difficult pitch to keep wickets with an inconsistent bounce on a turning wicket. He picked up few brilliant catches to show us why he is the termed as a World-Class keeper.

Hardik Pandya – 7/10

Pandya’s services with the ball wasn’t required in the first innings but he did not disappoint when an opportunity was presented to him in the second innings. He picked up a couple of crucial wickets when captain Kohli needed wickets the most. He first broke the mammoth partnership by dismissing Mendis and then took the wicket of Dickwella. Pandya also hit a few lusty blows in his inning of 20.

Ravindra Jadeja – 9.5/10

Ravindra Jadeja brought up his eighth half century in Test Cricket with his unbeaten knock of 70 off just 85 balls, smashing 4 boundaries and 3 sixes. He made a comeback today as went for plenty in the second innings with the ball in hand. He picked up yet another five wicket haul and also the man of the match for his 7 wickets and 70 in the match.

Mohammad Shami- 7/10

Shami was underutilized by Kohli in the first innings but still managed to pick up a couple of wickets. Shami saw the back of dangerous looking Niroshan Dickwella. After the end of first innings, his figures read 6-1-13-2. Even though he remained wicketless in second innings, he kept the pressure on the Lankans. He also entertained the crowd with the bat in hand for his cameo of 19 runs off just 8 balls, which contained two sixes and a boundary

Umesh Yadav – 7/10

Although Yadav had only 2 wickets to show for, the fiery bowler kept the hosts on their heels with his pace and bounce. He claimed the crucial wickets of Kusal Mendis in the first innings and removed Upul Tharanga in the second innings with the new ball.