The first Test of the 3-match series between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle is won by the visiting team.
India's spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets apiece to guide their side to a 304-run win over Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test in Galle.
Opening batsman Karunaratne was on 85 with Niroshan Dickwella 48 not out at the break, the duo having already added 76 for the fifth wicket. "You grow as a cricketer, your technique improves and when you come and play worldwide cricket again, you've some experience of playing first-class cricket and you are always in touch with the game", Pujara added.
Injured all-rounder Asela Gunaratne was unable to bat in either innings, while Herath could not pad up in the second innings after he was injured. With his 81-run knock, Mukund scored only his second Test half-century after his previous best effort of 62 against the West Indies in Dominica back in 2011.
In the process, Kohli equalled the records of former Indian skipper Dilip Vengsarkar (116 Tests) and VVS Laxman (134 Tests), who both have 17 Test hundreds. "If they don't bowl well they will have to field a lot in these hot and humid conditions", Ganguly said. "That's why we requested the Indian board for a change to bring the tour forward and they have agreed". When you get a chance in the middle, I want to capitalise on it.
There never was a contest - India dominated nearly all sessions of play with the Lankans never having a chance.
They could not last the day, though, as Kohli's bowling unit all contributed to a massive win for the world's top Test team.
Ashwin, with 3-65, dismissed Nuwan Pradeep without scoring before Jadeja (3-71) wrapped it up when Lahiru Kumara skied an attempted slog to become the last man out. "It's something that we can still identify and work on in the next two games as well".
With plenty of time still left in the match, India resisted the temptation to send Sri Lanka back in, choosing instead to bat again in the hope of building an unassailable lead before making an early declaration. I am disappointed I didn't get to three-figures today but I'm happy.
Perera and Angelo Mathews started the day on a steady note for Sri Lanka, handling the bowling of Umesh, Jadeja and Ashwin quite comfortably. "We should've bowled better".
For Cheteshwar Pujara, the hundred he made in Colombo, during the third Test of the series against Sri Lanka in 2015 had a big bearing on his career.