Opener Shikhar Dhawan made the most of his lucky Test comeback to slam a career-best 190-run knock, while Cheteshwar Pujara continued his golden run as India posted a formidable 399/3 on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka here.
Brought into the squad only after first-choice opener Murali Vijay was ruled out due to injury, Dhawan made full use of the opportunity and played an entertaining 168-ball innings that was studded with 31 fours. This was his fifth Test hundred.
Perfect foil to him was the in-form Pujara, who notched up his 12th Test hundred, remaining unbeaten at 144 off 247 balls. The duo powered India to their highest total on day one of an away Test and also the best by a visiting team in Sri Lanka, bettering the West Indies.
They also shared a 253-run second-wicket stand, which can well be described the defining partnership for India.
It was a case of two contrasting hundreds but both served India's purpose quite well against a home team, which was down to 10 men after middle-order batsman Asela Gunaratne was ruled out of the series with a fractured left thumb. Gunaratne was injured while fielding at second slip, trying to grab a catch of Dhawan.
The visiting batsmen were in marauding form and amassed the highest number of runs on the opening day of a Test by a visiting team in Sri Lanka.
In the process, India improved on their previous record of most runs scored on the opening day of an overseas Test, which stood at 375/9 versus New Zealand in Wellington.
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Shikhar Dhawan completes half-century. At the end of 23 overs, India 95 for 1 (Dhawan 51, Pujara 30).
At the end of 20 overs, India are 85 for 1 (Dhawan 48, Pujara 23).
At the end of 13 overs, India are 47 for 1 (Dhawan 23, Pujara 11).
Sri lanka's Nuwan Pradeep struck by grabbing the wicket of Abhinav Mukund for 12. India 27 for 1.
At the end of 6 overs, India 23 for no loss (Mukund 12, Dhawan 10)
The new Indian opening pair Abhinav Mukund, who replaced KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan negotiated the early onslaught of Sri lankan bowlers and at the end of three overs India are 11 for no loss with Mukund on 7 Dhawan on 3 at the crease.
India skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka in the first cricket Test at Galle International stadium, in Galle on Wednesday.
India have handed Test debut to all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Shikhar Dhawan will open the innings alongside Abhinav Mukund with K.L. Rahul sitting out due to viral fever.
The hosts are being led by Rangana Herath regular skipper since Dinesh Chandimal is unwell.
Teams:
Sri Lanka: Rangana Herath (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep.
India: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Abhinav Mukund, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami.
