Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring his fifth double century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
India captain Virat Kohli led by example on the third day of the second Test in Nagpur as he put his side in a commanding position with his breathtaking knock of 213.
Kohli’s set a new record with his knock as he became the first skipper in history to score 10 centuries across all formats in a calendar year.
Starting off the day on 312/2, Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara converted their 96-run partnership into a 183-run stand before Pujara was clean bowled by Dasun Shanaka for 143, which came off 362 balls and included 14 boundaries.
Even though Ajinkya Rahane fell shortly after, India didn’t panic as Kohli and Rohit Sharma stabilised the innings with a 173-run partnership, during which Kohli brought up his double century.
With India cruising, both batsmen began to up the ante, but that led to Kohli’s dismissal as he was caught by Lahiru Thirimanne at long-on off the bowling of Dilruwan Perera for 213, which came off 267 deliveries and included 17 boundaries and two sixes.
Ravichandran Ashwin only made five runs, but Rohit went on to make an unbeaten 102 off 160 balls, which included eight boundaries and a six, before India declared on 610/6, which gave them a 405-run lead.
Rohit Sharma struck his third Test hundred
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Dilruwan was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Shanaka, Lahiru Gamage and Rangana Herath chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Trailing by 405 runs, Sri Lanka were dealt a huge blow on the second ball of their innings as opener Sadeera Samarawickrama was clean bowled by Ishant Sharma for a duck.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Thirimanne ensured Sri Lanka didn’t lose another wicket as they put together an unbeaten 21-run partnership before stumps was called.
Karunaratne finished on 11 off 30 balls, which included two boundaries, while Thirimanne remained undefeated on on nine off 22 deliveries, which also included two boundaries.
Ishant was the only bowler to take a wicket.
Sri Lanka ended day three on 21/1 and will continue batting on Monday at 09:30 local time or 04:00 GMT.