Virender Sehwag 201* against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2008
In 2008 India’s Test tour of Sri Lanka was plagued with miserable performances. India in the first Test at SSC ground in Colombo lost to the host by a massive margin of 239.
In the second Test Sri Lanka brought in a mystery spinner Ajanta Mendis, who bamboozled Indian batsmen as he took six wickets. The Indian opener Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir gave India a good start as Gambhir was dismissed for 56 by Ajanta Mendis, his first international Test wicket.
India got a good start from the opening pair. It was 167. But after Gambhir’s dismissal India failed to find a clue to Mendis’ mystery spin. Dravid was dismissed for only 2, VVS Laxman for 5. But on the other end right handed destructive opener Virender Sehwag was playing Mendis with ease.
If Mendis gets the taste of success in the first Test of his career, he also sensed his mystery sorted out by Indian opener Sehwag. When India’s best batsmen like Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar have departed Sehwag continued with his aggressive batting. He attacked Mendis mercilessly. He hit towering sixes and 22 lovely boundaries.
Sehwag’s innings since then has become a learning manual for Indian batsmen whenever they go to counter spin at a rank turner. India lost the series, but Sehwag’s innings helped India to post 329 runs in the first innings. Sri Lankans were dismissed for 292. India in the second innings scored 269 declared and finally win the match by massive 170 runs.