MS Dhoni recently heaped praises on Virat Kohli’s captaincy and predicted that his new Indian team could dominate the Test arena in the coming few years. Coming from Dhoni, amid ever-present rumours of a cold war between the two, the statement underlined that it is impossible to ignore the giant strides Kohli has already taken in his brief stint as Test skipper.
It all started exactly a year ago today, when Kohli led the Indian team for the first time for a full Test series, hoping to end a 22-year drought on Sri Lankan soil. Kohli’s flair and aggression were immediately visible and it was evident that he was just the kind of captain that a young Test team needed at that moment.
But things did not get off to a dream start as Kohi’s men, after dominating throughout the first Test at Galle, nosedived to defeat on the last day. Thanks to a scintillating century from the newly crowned Indian Test captain and ten wickets in the match from Ravichandran Ashwin, India had been in a dominant position all along.
Sri Lanka had been outclassed to concede a huge first innings lead which meant that even a defiant batting performance from the hosts in the second innings was not enough to make an Indian victory seem the most likely proposition. But it was then that Kohli’s men choked.
Chasing 176 for victory on a turning track, Rangana Herath ran through the Indian batting line-up en route to a incredible 7 for 48, reducing the visitors to a paltry total of 112 in the fourth innings. The Indians slumped to a 63-run defeat and it was disheartening that none of the batsmen put up any semblance of resistance after such a dominant performance in their first innings.
India, however, did not lose heart and came back in the second innings with a stern response. K.L. Rahul once again proved that he had the ability to make the best of his opportunities as he struck a brilliant century at the top of the order. Riding on solid half-centuries from Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha, India posted a big total of 393 on the board in the first innings.
Sri Lanka fought neck and neck courtesy a gutsy century from their captain Angelo Mathews and looked good to match the Indian total at one stage. But the Indian spin duo of Ashwin and Mishra cashed in with six wickets between them to grant India a slender lead of 87 runs.
That lead proved to be a psychological boost as India continued their good work in the second innings, riding on a brilliant century from Ajinkya Rahane. A total of 325 in the second innings left Sri Lanka with 413 runs to chase and it is was their turn to succumb to the pressure.
Sri Lanka never looked to be in the game from there on, and lost their last six wickets for 28 runs to be bundled out for 134 in their second innings. Ashwin was once again the standout bowler for India with his five-for and Mishra continued his good work by chipping in with three wickets.
The two teams now moved to Colombo for the all-important and decisive third Test. It was Cheteshwar Pujara, opening the innings with K.L. Rahul, who set the stage alight with a masterful 145 in the first innings.
As fighting half-century from Mishra down the order, there were no other meaningful contributions from the middle order which meant that India could only manage a modest total of 312 in the first innings.
The Indian spinners had been at the top of their game throughout the series but it was now the turn of Ishant Sharma, who put in a wonderful performance to restrict the hosts to 201 in the first innings. Bowling with pace and purpose, Sharma surprised the batsmen with his out-swingers and the occasional short delivery to finish with 5 for 54.
The Sri Lankan quicks also seemed to be on fire in the second innings as they reduced India to 3 for 7 right at the beginning. However, resilient half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ashwin, plus meaningful contributions from Mishra, Stuart Binny and Naman Ojha took the Indian total to 274.
A target of 386 was always going to be tough on the fourth innings Colombo track but it did not seem impossible at one stage when Mathews and Kusal Perera had stitched up a fighting partnership. The Sri Lankan captain with his second century in the series seemed to bring a brief ray of hope for the hosts.
But it was once again a brilliant performance by the Indian spinners ably assisted by Ishant Sharma that put an end to Lankan hopes in the end. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 268 giving India a 117-run victory in the third Test.
There was much reason for jubilation and optimism and Kohli started off his stint as the Indian Test captain with a series win that put an end to a 22-year drought on the Lankan soil. Ravichandran Ashwin was at his imperious best having bagged 22 wickets in the series and was declared to be the Man of the Series.
It was also a moment of sad rumination as the legendary Kumar Sangakkara retired after the second Test in the series, bringing the curtains down on a golden era of Sri Lankan cricket.
One year down the line, with series wins against New Zealand and the West Indies, India under the captaincy of Kohli seem to be going from strength to strength in its bid to become an unassailable force once again.
