India registered a landslide victory by a margin of 304 runs in the opening Test at the Galle International Stadium to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing 3 matches Test series. The win, which came in the space of four days, was a result of an utter domination over Sri Lanka.
Read More: (Virat Kohli says Galle win was special)
Sri Lanka had a very bad game in all sense. They looked very poor in all three departments and suffered injury setbacks. The failure in showing a ‘Test – level” competence saw India post a daunting target of 550 runs while injuries to Rangana Herath and Aseala Gunaratne forced them to bat with just nine batters.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli couldn’t have asked for an easier start to the lengthy tour. The skipper himself contributed with an unbeaten 103 in India’s second innings which propelled them to 240/3, taking the overall target to an improbable level.
Speaking at the press conference, Kohli expressed satisfaction about his knock and also commended the team effort which was involved in the win.
“It always feels good to get runs especially when the team wins: Virat Kohli on his century against Sri Lanka in Galle.”
Kohli also had highly motivating words for the debutant Hardik Pandya. The Baroda all-rounder, who has been around at the international scene for more than a year now, was handed over the test cap by the skipper himself. The 24 year-old celebrated his debut game with a half century in the first innings and later contributed decently with the ball.
Kohli seemed completely impressed with his performance and tagged him as the “potential Ben Stokes of India”. It was an overwhelming compliment for a debutant.
“Virat Kohli said in PC today that Hardik Pandya has ‘potential to become Ben Stokes for India’.”