India vs Sri Lanka: 4 best Test matches this century
India Sri Lanka cricket has always been a regular fixture in both teams’ calendars over the years. In the early parts of the last decade, India Sri Lanka cricket matches were almost overplayed, with the teams clashing almost every year. With both India and Sri Lanka cricket teams looking very strong in that era, the matches were quite justified as the quality of cricket was top notch.
Sri Lanka was the most played team by India and the Lankans benefitted from the money that was raked in by playing one of the wealthiest boards in cricket.
Indian cricket team players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Sri Lankan cricket players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Muthiah Muralidaran dominated the matches between the two teams this century in the Test arena.
With that amount of India versus Sri Lanka live cricket, a friendly rivalry has been forged between the two neighbouring countries. The two teams also locked horns in two finals in the 2011 ODI World Cup final and the 2014 T20 World Cup final, intensifying the rivalry between the two teams.
In this article, let’s take a look at some of the best India vs Sri Lanka live Test matches this century. As the Sri Lankan cricket team lost most of its legends after 2015, the number of games between India vs Sri Lanka cricket has also reduced.
4. India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Brabourne, 2009
This India vs Sri Lanka cricket match is best remembered for the 293 runs scored by Indian opener Virender Sehwag in the first innings. The Indian cricket team came into this test leading the 3-match series 1-0 and having to avoid defeat to win the series.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first to make full use of the batting conditions. The Sri Lankan cricket team were powered by Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 109 and Angelo Mathews’ 99 on their way to a first-innings total of 393. Harbhajan Singh (4/112) and Pragyan Ojha (3/101) were the picks of the bowlers for India.
India put on a batting masterclass to score a mammoth 726/9 in their first innings. Sehwag’s 293 and MS Dhoni also scored a century to virtually bat Sri Lanka out of the game and the series. Left with a deficit of 333, Sri Lanka crumbled even though Kumar Sangakkara scored a valiant century.
3. Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test, Galle, 2008
Virender Sehwag once again came up with the goods for India with yet another double-century of 201 runs. The fact that only three Indian batsmen reached double-figures in the innings signifies the quality of the innings from the Delhi batsmen.
Even though Sehwag scored a double-century, India finished with 329 in the 1st innings, with Sri Lankan cricket player Ajanta Mendis taking 6 wickets. The Sri Lankan cricket team got close to India’s total, posting 292 in their first innings. There were three half-centurions for Sri Lanka and Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the bowlers with a 6-for.
A collective batting effort took India to 269, setting a target of 307 for the Sri Lankans. India decimated the Sri Lankan batting line-up, dismissing them for just 136 to win by 170 runs.
2. Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test, Galle, 2015
India came into this Indian versus Sri Lanka cricket series as firm favourites and played like it for the most part in this Test match but was stunned by the Sri Lankan cricket team. The Lankans skittled out for just 183 in their 1st innings thanks to a 6-wicket haul from Ravi Ashwin.
In India’s 1st innings, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan scored vital centuries to take control of the game. With a deficit of close to 200, Sri Lanka was tottering at 95/5 and on the brink of an innings defeat. But Dinesh Chandimal played the innings of his life with an incredible rear-guard effort of 162 to take Sri Lanka to 367.
Chasing a small total of 176, the Indian cricket team fell like a pack of cards to the spin of Rangana Herath, who took 7/48. It was one of Sri Lanka’s greatest comeback wins in history.
1. Sri Lanka vs India, 3rd Test, Colombo, 2010
Coming into this match, India looked to win the game and avoid defeat in Sri Lanka for the first time in 17 years. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, scoring a competitive 425 in their 1st innings. Thilan Samaraweera scored a century, with Pragyan Ojha picking up 4 wickets.
India, in reply, was powered by Sehwag’s 109 coupled with half-centuries from Raina and Laxman on their way to 436. Sri Lanka were 125/8 in the 2nd innings, but Ajanta Mendis’ 78 took them to 267. Chasing a target of 257, the Indian cricket team were staring at defeat at 62/4.
VVS Laxman played one of his trademark knocks of 103 in the 4th innings to dig India out of trouble. India got to the target by losing just 5 wickets at the end and drawing the 3-match Test series in the process.