India have the upper hand in the first Test against Sri Lanka after having reduced the hosts to 154-5 on day two at Galle.
Earlier, Virat Kohli’s side were bowled out for 600 in their first innings with Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara notching up centuries. While Dhawan top scored with a 168-ball 190, Pujara managed 153 before being dismissed early on Thursday.
Speaking after the end of play on day two, Pujara felt that the Indian team are very well poised in the match currently.
“We would like to maintain that standard. We have scored enough runs, and we’ve got five wickets today. We are very well poised at this stage,” Pujara was quoted as saying by AFP.
“I think the key for us, even in the last season, was that we’ve bowled really well. Our bowlers are bowling good lines and lengths.”
Nuwan Pradeep (L) celebrating the dismissal of Ravichandran Ashwin.
Despite it being a disappointing couple of days for Sri Lanka, fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep put in a very good performance as he picked up bowling figures of 6-132 – his best in an innings in Test cricket.
The 30-year-old acknowledged that he didn’t start well but got better once he got into his rhythm.
“Though I didn’t start well, I thought I got better as I kept bowling. I got some rhythm,” Pradeep was quoted as saying by AFP.
“We came to the match with a plan. But the way the match went and given the state of the pitch, we had to change our plans.
“A lot of our plans didn’t work… But cricket is like that, at least we could get them out for 600.”