India thrash Sri Lanka

India completed another dominant win over Sri Lanka on Monday, by an innings and 171 runs and within three days, to record a 3-0 triumph in the series. Following on, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 181 in the second session of play, surrendering to the guile of Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, who took nine wickets among them. In series involving at least three Tests, this is the first time India whitewashed another team in its own backyard. Virat Kohli and his men deserve credit for that. Shikhar Dhawan, making a comeback, led the way with 358 runs in three Tests, while spinners Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja grabbed 30 wickets between them, and Shami took another 10.

Kohli would be the first to acknowledge that India - though they played great cricket - were favoured by fortune. Kohli won the toss in each Test, and promptly chose to bat. His batsmen took advantage of the first-day pitch each time, against an indifferent bowling attack - at the end of the first day’s play in the three Tests, India were 399/3, 344/3 and 329/6. India three first-innings totals were 600, 622/9 and 487. Sri Lanka couldn't cope with the pressure. They did not touch 400 even once, and were bowled for less than 200 in three of the six innings. 

The Indian team had the good fortune to catch a Sri Lankan team low on experience, ability and confidence. Sri Lanka lost a home Test to Bangladesh in March, and were put under great pressure by Zimbabwe last month. Not too long ago, when Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan were still playing, Sri Lanka was a very difficult place to tour. Even the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble managed to win only one series in Sri Lanka. Kohli, however, has a perfect record there —two out of two series won in Sri Lanka. It’s a creditable record, though it also indicates how low Sri Lanka have fallen.