IND vs SL 1st Test is underway on Day 3 | X.com/screengrab
The Indian spinners are on a roll on the third morning of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, with the visitors putting the home team under the pump already.
Although plenty of overs were wasted in the first two days, India were able to post a mammoth total of 462 runs on the board, thanks to Devdutt Padikkal's majestic 167.
Replying to India’s gigantic first-innings score, the Sri Lankan batters never got to settle in, as the top order fell like a pack of cards.
Witty Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant motivate Ravindra Jadeja
As India played three spinners in the IND vs SL 1st Test, Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav were introduced into the attack ahead of the veteran all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja.
The move by the Indian captain Shubman Gill worked like a charm, as the rookie left-arm spinner snared two wickets before lunch, while the left-arm leg-spinner had a scalp to his name during the first session on Day 3.
Before the veteran all-rounder was brought into the attack, substitute fielder Sarfaraz Khan was heard lifting Jadeja’s morale. The Mumbaikar in his own style said, "Abhi lamba game hai, Jaddu Bhai, mil baant kar khaenge. (Don't worry Jadeja, you will get your time to pick wickets as well)."
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Rishabh Pant, from behind the stumps, also joined in with his wittiness by adding, “Bas ab talwar chalenge. (You can always bring out your sword).”
The motivational commentary from Sarfaraz and Pant worked too well, as Jadeja was able to break a wicket despite getting the ball in the late minutes of the session.
Watch: Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant turn into commentators to lift up Ravindra Jadeja
Injuries in Indian camp brought Ravindra Jadeja back
Ravindra Jadeja was an absentee during India's last Test outing, against Afghanistan, where Manav Suthar debuted, while Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar were the primary spinners.
However, an untimely injury to Washington Sundar forced the selectors to bring back the veteran all-rounder to the fray. Notably, Jadeja is among the three players in the Indian Test squad who have previously toured Sri Lanka for the longest format.
On his return, the 37-year-old didn’t have a great time in the first-innings, as he threw his prized wicket away after a 25-ball 13, which resulted in the Indian collapse.
That said, it was a rare failure for the veteran all-rounder, who has been one of India’s best batters statistically since the turn of this decade. Overall, he has scored 4108 runs in 90 Test matches at an average of 38.03.
Can India win the Galle Test despite lost overs?
As Sri Lanka have lost half of their side, without even 100 runs on the board, the hosts are trailing by 263 runs at Lunch on Day 3. Moreover, they need to score 164 runs from this stage to avoid the follow-on.
Despite a lot of overs being lost, Team India are in the box seat in the Galle Test. Thus, the team management will plan to get the remaining five wickets by the next session, before getting another go at the Lankan batters on Day 3.
With rain predicted for brief stages for the remainder of the Test match, the Shubman Gill-led side won’t afford to lose the grip on the momentum.
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