The first Test of the 3-match series between India and Sri Lanka is being played at the Galle in Sri Lanka. After winning the toss and electing to bat first against the hosts, Team India piled up a big total of 600 with the help of Shikhar Dhawan’s 190 and Cheteshwar Pujara’s 153. Team India has been able to put great pressure on the host team with their supreme performance.

Not forgetting, the Indian bowlers had done a great job by restricting the hosts for 291 all out. Now, team India had an opportunity of giving a follow-on to the Sri Lankan team. As everyone thought that Indian captain Virat Kohli will impose a follow-on to the opponents team but it didn’t happen like past few instances.

Rather, Kohli again decided to take batting. Why?

Going through the last 4 instances in Kohli’s captaincy, he had to enforce follow-on but he didn’t.

The other 2 instances when he chose to enforce the follow-on, the match ended in a draw against Bangladesh because of rain and second time India won against WI by an inning.

But on Friday, when he again avoided follow-on against Sri Lanka, then it made everyone think why Team India is not giving follow-on to their opponents even after getting many chances. Some say that it may be due to his aggressive mindset that he does not likes to enforce a ‘Follow on’.

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While we don’t know the game’s result yet, not enforcing the follow-on is a decision that is taken to reduce the opposition’s chances of making a comeback in the match and often shuts them out of the game. In recent years, numbers suggest that not enforcing the follow-on has worked better for teams.

According to a Quora user, there are four reasons for not enforcing the follow-on. They are:

1. No team wants to bat in the fourth innings on a fifth-day wicket. The pitch supports the bowlers heavily on the last day and it really becomes difficult to chase even 150. Virat does not want to take a risk and give the opposition any chance of coming back in the game. Though the probability of the opposition to set a big target is very less if a follow on is enforced but even 150–200 is enough and it’s not a risk worth taking.

2. The bowlers get a bit of break when the team bats again especially considering the fact the players are playing too much cricket nowadays.

3. There is no the need of hurrying up in a Test match. It is played for 5 days or 15 sessions. A win is a win, even if you win it on the fourth day or in the fifth day last season.

4. The probability of losing from setting a target of 450+ is very less compared to the probability of losing from a follow on.

Therefore, only if the weather forecast is bad then enforcing the follow on is the best option.

You can read the full thread here.

Briefing about Follow-On Who Don’t follow Test Cricket and Doesn’t Understand:

In Test Cricket, there is no limit of overs for the teams so once a side starts batting, they play until all the players are out. Now, the second side has to chase that target and set a lead against the first team. But in case they fall short, there’s a maximum difference of 200 that is allowed. If the second team falls short of that too, it gives an advantage to the first team and it’s called “Follow On”.

The team with the advantage of Follow On can make the opposition play again and this time the new total will be added to the old total. Suppose Team A scored 650 runs in the first innings and the second team got all out on mere 360 runs. This is a difference of 290 runs which means Team A can impose a “Follow On” on Team B.

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Now Team B will play again and suppose they score 400 runs in the second innings this will make a total of 760 runs for Team B. Team A needs a score of 111 to win now. And in case Team B falls short again and scores less than 290, Team A will win the match without even playing the second innings.