Ind Vs SL: Under Rohit Sharma’s spectacular captaincy debut, India wins by an innings and 222 runs

Sri Lanka, who lost 16 wickets on the day, were bowled out for 178 in their second innings after being bowled out for 174 in the first.

The first Test betwixt India and Sri Lanka was won by an innings and 222 runs at Mohali on Sunday, due to an all-round performance by the hosts. Ravindra Jadeja, the Player of the Encounter, struck 175 not out and then took nine wickets to top off a fantastic match that saw India take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. 

Sri Lanka could only manage 178 in their second innings after scoring 174 in their first. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin each grabbed four wickets for India, while Mohammed Shami also took two. Ravi Ashwin with his exceptional bowling performance get past Kapil Dev to become India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. Ravindra Jadeja had earlier taken five wickets to help India force a follow-on against Sri Lanka. India had amassed a 400-run advantage.

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The longest stand put up by Sri Lanka was a 17-over partnership between Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva in the second innings, preceded by the 15 overs it required India to take the first wicket in the morning. Rohit Sharma was encouraged to enforce the follow-on after six wickets dropped for 13 runs in 43 deliveries.

The spinners may have taken the bigger wickets, but the fast bowlers added to their threat by constantly interrogating the batters, which kept the pressure on the spinners and prevented them from getting their breaks.

Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, makes his Test captaincy debut after more than eight years since making his Test debut.