Gains from Sri Lankan tour

Subhash Rajta

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3

Away Test triumphs are pretty rare these days. For that reason alone, India’s victory in Sri Lanka is pretty special. The add-ons like it came after 22 years on Sri Lankan soil, was their first overseas series win in four years since they won in the West Indies make it even sweeter.

Grand as these milestones seem, the real gains of the Indian side from the tour, however, lie somewhere else. The most significant feat was India picking up 20 wickets in each of the three Tests — they managed to dismiss the hosts twice even in the Test they lost. Now, that’s a rarity for the Indian attack that is more often than not found wanting, particularly in foreign conditions. It was refreshingly different this time though. The attack was up to the challenge on turning tracks in the first Two Tests; and when the hosts rolled out a green-top for the third and decisive Test, the pacers stepped up to win the contest. While they were excellent as a group, their individual performances hint they are ready to dish out quality performances consistently in the future.

To begin with, Ravichandran Ashwin seems to have understood his game and role after having experimented with his action and line. Maybe Harbhajan Singh’s recall to the mix played a part, too, in him getting his act together.

Having won his battle against the senior off-spinner and having found his rhythm, Ashwin has established himself as the unquestionable leader of the pack.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s return to the side and his performance is a huge plus for India. The diminutive leggie formed a potent pair with Ashwin and offered a massive support to the off-spinner from the other end. Besides picking up 15 wickets, just six less than Ashwin, the leg-spinner made some crucial contributions with the bat too.

As for Ishant Sharma, the pacer probably bowled his best in his career yet. He was impressive throughout, giving crucial breakthroughs with the new ball even on tracks not helpful for the seam bowlers. And when he did get a seaming track, he simply ran through the Lankan side to win the Test and series for India.

Batting riches at the top

The Indian batting, on the other hand, had a mixed tour. On the positive side, they scored five hundreds; on the flip side, they suffered one of their most embarrassing collapses when they were shot out for a mere 112 while chasing 176 at Galle. Yet, to win a series after losing both the regular openers midway is a huge feat indeed. KL Rahul, the back-up opener, and Cheteshwar Pujara, the make-shift opener, struck match-winning hundreds as they filled in for the injured Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan. And when there was crisis at No. 3, Ajinkya Rahane came up the order and struck an outstanding century. To have five top batsmen who could open and come one-down is a luxury that India perhaps never had in the past.

Good start for skipper

Virat Kohli the skipper couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. An overseas series win in his very first series will give him a lot of confidence. He has looked decisive and flexible. He had been talking a lot about fielding five bowlers ahead of the series and he walked the talk in the first match. But when he realised the limitation/drawbacks of the move, he was quick to replace a regular bowler with an all-rounder. One thing the young skipper could be faulted for is how he chose to overlook Ishant Sharma’s shameful show of naked aggression. As a skipper, he needs to draw a line and reproach, not encourage, those crossing it.

Weak opposition

Despite all the positives, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the victory has come against a very weak Lankan side. This was probably one of the weakest Lankan Test sides in the last two decades.

Yet, it has been a series where India’s gains go beyond merely the result.