GALLE – Shikhar Dhawan smashed a career-best 190 on his Test comeback to lead a brilliant Indian batting assault on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
The left-handed opener struck 31 boundaries in a blazing 168-ball knock, and Cheteshwar Pujara joined in with an unbeaten 144 to take the visitors to 399/3 at stumps.
The hosts toiled in the Galle field, and suffered a major blow when all-rounder Asela Gunaratne broke his thumb trying to take a catch off Dhawan.
He is set to undergo a surgery on Wednesday, and is almost certain to miss the rest of the three-Test series.
Dhawan and Pujara put on 253 for the second wicket – India’s highest second-wicket stand against Sri Lanka – after skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bat under an overcast sky.
Dhawan, drafted into the Indian squad at the last moment, said it was a blow to get out so close to a maiden double hundred.
“Of course I was disappointed that I got out for 190, I would have loved to have scored a 200,” Dhawan said.
“But more than that, I got out at the wrong time. It was the last over before tea. But the way I was playing, I was confident that I could clear the mid-off fielder and I was almost hitting a boundary per over.
“I was in that zone and I backed myself. Unfortunately, it didn’t go my way.”
Dhawan was out in the last over before tea when he handed a simple catch off paceman Nuwan Pradeep to Angelo Mathews at mid-off.
Kohli was dismissed for three when he tried to pull a chest-high delivery from Pradeep, who took 3/64, but nicked behind instead to Niroshan Dickwella.
Pradeep’s appeal was initially turned down, but the decision was overturned by the TV umpire when replays showed the ball had grazed Kohli’s bat.
Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan in full cry against Sri Lanka in Galle. Photo: Dinuka Liyanawatte, Reuters
It was a blow, but no major problem for India as Dhawan took the opening day honours, celebrating his return to Test cricket with a breathtaking array of shots.
It was the second time he had scored a century in a single Test session, having made 187 on his debut against Australia – including 106 in one session.
Dhawan scored 126 off just 90 balls between lunch and tea, leaving Virender Sehwag as the only other Indian batsman to score more runs in a single session.
The hosts squandered a golden chance to dismiss Dhawan in his thirties when Gunaratne dropped the batsman at second slip. Medics rushed to attend to Gunaratne, who was writhing in pain before walking off the ground.
The Indians were given an early jolt when Dhawan’s opening partner Abhinav Mukund edged Pradeep behind to Dickwella in the eighth over.
Mukund, who opened the batting after Lokesh Rahul was ruled out with illness, made 12.