India vs Sri Lanka: Day 2 Test Match Review
Another memorable day for the home team, as Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant helped India build a sizeable lead of 447 for Sri Lankan batsman to chase. India hasn't taken their foot off the pedal once they got a 250+ score in the first inning.
Image credit: PA Images The Indian test team huddle before a recent matchIndia's stranglehold on the match
Jasprit Bumrah picked up his first 5-fiver at home to end Sri Lanka's first inning quickly in the morning session. Indian batters resumed their play the same way as the first inning's by not allowing the spinners to dominate and attack. India got a steady start from Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal, who got dismissed for 22. Captain Rohit Sharma then built a 119-ball partnership with Hanuma Vihari but couldn't capitalise much on the runs scored.
Hanuma Vihari said, "It was quite challenging. A kind of wicket where any ball could get you out.
"It will be challenging for Sri Lanka tomorrow as well. I was trusting my defence even on this wicket. Got a good one in the first innings, could've shown more patience in the second innings.
"Don't think we planned on bowling this evening, but because we lost wickets, we thought we could have a crack at them for 35-40 minutes."
Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer's sensational batting
Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer stood out among all the batsman's the pair of them got to their respective fifties. The former even recorded the fastest ever Test fifty in just 28 balls by breaking the record of Legendary Kapil Dev, who had it in 30 balls. In contrast, flamboyant batter Shreyas Iyer, who played his first pink ball test, scripted history by scoring twin fifties in the Day/Night Test. He carried his form from the 92 in the first innings to a magnificent 67 in the second. He became the first Indian to achieve this feat. Earlier held by Darren Bravo (2016), Steven Smith (2016), Marnus Labuschagne (2019, 2021) and now Shreyas Iyer (2022).
Difficult task ahead for Sri Lanka
It was hard work in the field for Sri Lanka and they even had a tricky period to survive with the bat. Thirimanne got out for a duck as he was trapped LBW in the very first over by Bumrah, but Mendis and Karunaratne did manage to see them through.
Sri Lanka will need to show plenty of fight and determination on the third day to take this Test into the fourth day as they still trail by 419 runs and 9 wickets in hand.