India showed sheer dominance with the bat on the first day of the third and final Test match at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi with both Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay getting their hundreds after Indian skipper Virat Kohli elected to bat first after winning the toss. With an easy track to bat on, the Indian batsmen scored at a good run-rate and are looking forward to posting a mammoth total on the scoreboard as the Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to break through the Indian batting.

With a new opening pair for the third time in this series, India got off to a flier with both Murali Vijay, and Shikhar Dhawan scoring runs at ease. However, Shikhar Dhawan (23) couldn’t capitalize on the start as he top-edged one to deep square-leg off Dilruwan Perera, who becomes the fastest Sri Lankan bowler to pick 100 Test wicket. Cheteshwar Pujara, who looked compact in the other two Test got out at 23 falling in the trap set by the Sri Lankan team as he played an incoming delivery straight into the hands of the leg gully which was positioned for that.

Murali Vijay, on the other hand, was fluent as he played his shots convincingly. He didn’t face any trouble as he went on to score his 11th Test hundred. The cricketer from Tamil Nadu once again proved his worth as an opener and almost cemented his place in the first XI for the South Africa series. However, he got out stumped at the fag end of the day’s play as he missed the turn with his back foot-dragging out of the crease off Lakshan Sandakan thus breaking a partnership of 283 runs.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli was right in his zone as he played his strokes right from the beginning, thus reaching his hundred in just 100 balls, the fastest of the 20th Test hundred. He also went pass 5000 Test runs and became the fourth fastest Indian batsmen to do so after Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, and Sachin Tendulkar.

However, Sri Lanka came back to the game as the day was nearing its end as Sandakan gave two breakthroughs first by picking Vijay and then Ajinkya Rahane as both the batsmen were undone by the spin as they dragged their feet outside the crease getting stumped. Kohli (156*) and Rohit Sharma (6*) remained unbeaten with India posting 371 runs for the loss of four wickets as the players went off the field after the end of day’s play.
Here is how the Twitter reacted after India’s dominance with the bat after the first day of the third and final Test match:
The greatest batsman of his generation. He is on a different level to any current batsmen – @imVkohli!
— Kevin Pietersen? (@KP24) December 2, 2017
When two eye-catching batsmen bat through a session, it can be fun to watch. But apart from 2-3 balls, neither Vijay nor Kohli had any opposition
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 2, 2017
Scorching run scoring pace of @imVkohli and @mvj888 has Lankans huffing and puffing already, before tea on the first day…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 2, 2017
दिल्ली हो या कलकता,
कोई फ़र्क़ नहीं अलबत्ता…
Virat सम्राट की असीम सत्ता….
52nd International Ton…. #IndvSL— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 2, 2017
My twins trying to acknowledge Virat's 150 but continue with the Christmas decorations, or should I say vandalism. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/Bdov4Z8mRk
— Brendan Taylor (@BrendanTaylor86) December 2, 2017
What a dominating session by India. After 2 sessions scoring at 4.3 rpo. Virat looking in ominous form and a wonderful back to back century from Murali Vijay. Total control.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 2, 2017
3rd century in 3 innings. Salute to the modern master @imVkohli . What an inspiration !#INDvsSL
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 2, 2017
Two fine stumpings from Dickwella bring some cheer to Sri Lanka at the end of a long day.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 2, 2017
Seems like Virat didn't even realise he's got to his 50. Looks he's in the 'zone', nothing matters, just him n the ball. #INDvSL
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) December 2, 2017
Don't think sending a nightwatchman for Rohit was a good ploy, oh wait, it was Rahane? ?#INDvSL
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) December 2, 2017
Rahane in ODI:
Kept scoring fifties but not getting much opportunity..
Rahane in Test:
Kept getting opportunities but not scoring runs..
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) December 2, 2017
Kohli today:
50 off 52 balls – his fastest Test fifty
100 off 110 balls – his fastest Test century#IndvsSl
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 2, 2017
Another century by @imVkohli .. This Man is unstoppable .. #IndvsSl
— Sumit Kadel (@SumitkadeI) December 2, 2017
International hundred no. 52 for Virat Kohli – now only 48 short of Sachin. BTW Sachin had scored 60 hundreds at his age (at 7.20 innings/hundred). Virat has taken 6.73 innings for each hundred.#INDvSL #INDvsSL
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 2, 2017
2 Quick Wickets. Murali Vijay & Ajinkya Rahane Has Been Stumped. In Comes Rohit Sharma. Kohli-Sharma Partnership Would Be A Treat To Watch. #INDvSL #INDvsSL
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) December 2, 2017