Stats: Shikhar Dhawan scored 126 runs in a post lunch session

Shikhar Dhawan once again showed what he is capable of as he struck a huge century on day 1 against Sri Lanka scoring 190 in just 168. Dhawan walked into the playing XI for the first Test at Galle in the place of KL Rahul, who is suffering from viral fever. The left-hander replicated his brilliant 173 (vs Bangladesh in 2015) during this innings as he was out of the squad then as well but Rahul’s illness got him a place in the XI.

Dhawan opened the innings along with Abhinav Mukund after India elected to bat first. Though Mukund fell early, Dhawan kept going with positive intent. He brought up his fifty in 62 balls and was unbeaten on 64 at Lunch. In the 2nd session, he was all out aggressive against all the four bowlers especially the spinners playing a lot of sweep shots and used his feet to hit down the ground.

He raced to his century off just 110 balls and later to 150 in just 147. Just when he was looking set to hit one of the quickest ever double centuries in Test cricket, Dhawan hit one straight into hands of Angelo Mathews, the mid-off fielder to be dismissed on 190. The left-handed opener struck 31 fours in his innings which came to an end minutes before Tea.

After the Lunch break and till his dismissal before the last interval for the day, Dhawan amassed 126 runs; the 2nd most runs scored by an Indian in a single session in Test cricket second only to Virender Sehwag’s effort of 133 runs against Sri Lanka in 2009 at Mumbai.

Most runs in a single session in Test cricket by Indians:

His 126 runs are the 10th highest overall in a single session by any player in Tests and the 4th most runs scored in this format between Lunch and Tea. His total is the highest between Lunch and Tea since Denis Compton’s 173 runs way back in 1954.

Most runs in a single session in Test cricket:

(Stats as on July 26. 2017)