India strengthened its position in the second test against Sri Lanka as wicketkeeper-batters Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel scored unbeaten half-centuries to take the visitors past the 400-run mark on Day 2 at Sinhalese Sports Club. The pair put together a crucial unbroken 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket to keep India in charge after Sri Lanka made a first step in the morning session.
At lunch, India was 419/6 in 112 overs with Pant on 63 off 88 balls and Jurel on 59 from 107 deliveries. Their measured but aggressive cricket frustrated Sri Lankan bowlers who could not make any further progress despite having the new ball in the morning session.
The biggest talking point in the session was Pant’s return to the crease. The left-hander had retired hurt on just three after he had been struck on the left wrist on the first day. Day 2 wasn’t as serious as Pant had been in the morning, but once he opened his innings he was determined to put that behind him and came back to the set up. He did his trademark attacking stance and was instrumental in pulling the team back to India.
Sri Lanka started the morning with a first success when fast bowler Asitha Fernando dismissed debutant Saransh Jain. Fernando delivered a strong bouncer from around the wicket and Jain was able to take a leading edge that was safely taken at gully. The wicket gave Sri Lanka a chance to limit India's first-innings total and also put pressure on the incoming Pant.
But Pant responded in typical fashion. Sri Lanka's seamers immediately tested him with short-pitched deliveries, but the strategy also provided the batter with scoring opportunities. One short ball from Lahiru Kumara down the leg side was pulled by Pant high over the stadium roof. The force of the shot was such that it damaged a solar panel, adding an unusual moment to an otherwise intense Test match.
Pant continued to take on the Sri Lankan attack and suffered further blows during the session. He was struck twice on the right shoulder and needed medical attention, but the pain didn’t stop him from continuing his innings. So he employed attacking strokes with good shot selection to keep India’s scoreboard moving.
At the other end, Jurel provided the stability India needed. The young wicketkeeper-batter looked well equipped to cope with pace and spin and produced a series of clean drives and well-timed flicks. When Sri Lanka introduced spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha, Jurel remained positive and used the pull shot well to get the boundary.
Pant also adapted well as the session went on. He employed paddle sweeps, decisive footwork and controlled shots to disrupt the bowlers’ plans. Even when he edged the ball, he found ways to keep the runs coming, preventing Sri Lanka from creating sustained pressure.
Both players achieved half-centuries in a convincing manner. Pant reached his 21st Test fifty with a pull shot to square leg, and Jurel completed his third half-century by pulling the ball through mid-wicket. The milestones showed the control they had over the Sri Lankan attack.
The partnership then made it beyond 100 for the seventh wicket, which further strengthened India's advantage. Sri Lanka continued to push spin from both ends until lunch time, but a lack of consistency allowed Pant and Jurel to keep on getting runs. For a time there the hosts failed to make the breakthrough they needed before the interval.
Devdutt Padikkal's 117 in the innings set the scene for India to achieve a solid start in the first innings. Now that Pant and Jurel are both in place, India will be hoping to turn that foundation into a solid first-innings total. The visitors have already crossed 400 and with two established batters, they would have a great chance of adding more runs.
Sri Lanka’s immediate goal will be to break the Pant-Jurel partnership after lunch. The pitch is still an ideal place for pace and spin and the home side needs to take more consistency from its bowlers if it wants to keep India from building a large total.
Pant's return has been particularly significant for India. His half-century after his injury scare has helped the team to a high score and has shown that even though he had some bad luck, he can still be part of a Test match. Jurel has supported Pant perfectly, providing composure while Pant has maintained the attacking tempo.
With India at 419/6, the second session could determine just how much of a first-innings advantage the visitors have. Sri Lanka needs quick wickets and India will have to build on Pant, Jurel and the lower order to extend its lead. For now, the visitors have seized control of the Test and their two wicketkeepers are at the center of a crucial fightback.
Brief Scores: India 419/6 in 112 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Rishabh Pant 63*; Asitha Fernando 4-60, Lahiru Kumara 1-61) against Sri Lanka.
