It has been one of the biggest problems for the Indian team to select the openers from many options. With the Indian batsmen hardly having to hit top gear to make cheerful in the winter sunlight during the 3rd Test in Delhi against Sri Lanka, the management finally went with Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay.
Murali Vijay made a comeback to the playing line-up in the 2nd Test after Dhawan was released from the team due to personal reasons. However, Vijay scored a century on a comeback in Nagpur. He went to repeat the same feat in Delhi and completed his 11th Test century without any trouble whilst in the company of the run-machine and skipper Virat Kohli.
Whereas, Right-handed opener Lokesh Rahul made way for the left-handed Shikhar Dhawan as India, 1-0 up in the series, shuffled the top of their batting order for the third match in a row. Dhawan could not make the most of the opportunity, though, his attempted sweep shot off Dilruwan Perera finding Suranga Lakmal at the deep square leg.
Starting the innings in the third and final Test in Delhi, Dhawan in an ominous mood yet again, but soon gifted his wicket to Dilruwan Perera, who made the left-hander his 100th victim in Tests. Perera, however, has his teammate Suranga Lakmal to thank for assisting him to get the landmark wicket.
In hazy conditions, Lakmal, who was fielding at the backward square leg, lost his shoe while chasing the ball as he went for the catch. The Sri Lankan lost his balance, but in the end, managed to take Dhawan’s catch to give Sri Lanka their first success. The incident drew several laughs from the Sri Lankan camp.
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Suranga Lakmal catch of Dhawan leaves his teammates in splits #INDvSL #ShikharDhawan https://t.co/pmkvb84E2j
— allindiaroundup (@AIRNewsOfficial) December 2, 2017
Dhawan too was stunned with Lakmal’s effort and had a smile on his face while going back to the pavilion.
The Men in Blues registered a mammoth 371/4 at stumps on Day 1. While Murali Vijay went on to knock his 11th Test hundred, captain Kohli stroked to his 20th Test ton. In the process, the Indian captain overtook South Africa’s Hashim Amla to garner 16000 Test runs in 350 innings.
India who lead the three-match Test series 1-0, will look to wrap up the final match as fast as possible and complete the record-equaling ninth series without too much ado. After this series, the Kohli-led India will travel to South Africa for what is expected to be a testing series.