Sri Lanka vs India 2017, 1st Test: Nice And Straight - Ajinkya Rahane Gears Up For Second Day's Play At Galle 1
Image credits: BCCI

On expected lines, Team India began the proceedings in Sri Lanka on a dominating note. After a good batting performance in the two-day warm-up game, Virat Kohli & Co. displayed a sizzling batting performance on the first day of the series-opener in Galle.

Virat Kohli’s decision to bat first backfired initially when Abhinav Mukund departed cheaply but comeback-man Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara buried all the apprehensions with a huge 253-runs partnership before Dhawan’s entertaining knock of 190 runs came to an end.

The southpaw, playing his first Test since playing against New Zealand in October last year, did not put a foot wrong and made the most of the opportunity by slamming his career-best total. Virat Kohli’s early departure pushed India on the backfoot for a while but Pujara held firm from one end and was well supported by Ajinkya Rahane, as India finished the first day on a commanding 399 for three.

Pujara was unbeaten on 144 while Rahane was playing on 39.  India would certainly look to build on the brilliant platform and Rahane is geared up to step up to the challenge. In a video posted by BCCI on Twitter, India’s vice-captain was seen practising ahead of the second day’s play and was seen middling the ball nicely.