SSC-pass India now await bigger tests

COLOMBO: Shikhar Dhawan slapped his thigh in signature style, and after congratulating each other, India skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane grabbed a stump each and walked away. There were no big celebrations.
Dishing out eight days of flawless cricket, India had outplayed Sri Lanka to clinch a rare overseas series win after just two Tests, but the enthusiasm that normally accompanies their Test triumphs outside the country was missing.Surely, the low-key celebrations at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), after they thrashed the hosts by an innings and 53 runs to finish off the series even before it moves to Pallekele for the third Test (August 12), told you one thing: Kohli and his team know biggest arrive only next year, when India embark on tougher away tours to South Africa, England and Australia.
On Sunday, when Kohli was quizzed about how excited he was about the possibility of 'brown washing' Sri Lanka 3-0 on their own turf, he replied: "Yes, we do have that chance, but we are not looking at Test cricket now as home and away. We are just want to win Tests wherever we play, whatever the conditions may be.
"If we can believe enough in our abilities, we are not really bothered about where we are playing. I can sense that kind of energy in the team, and the team believes that as well. We are creating a habit of winning," quipped Kohli.
Kohli now has 18 wins under his belt-only three less than India's second-most successful captain Sourav Ganguly (21). Surely, he's breaking records almost as quickly as a captain as he is as a batsman.
It's difficult to ignore what India have achieved under him in past couple of years. Clearly, they've been the most dominant Test side in the world, not having lost a series since their 2-0 defeat to Australia Down Under in 2014-15. On Sunday, he led India to their eighth consecutive series win.
When they play the Lankans again, at home later this year, Kohli's band will have a chance to equal the "awesome Aussies' record of nine consecutive Test series wins between 2005 and 2008.
"When Imran (Khan) was leading a strong Pak team he urged his board to schedule tougher challenges for his team. Virat must do the same," tweeted former India batsman turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar on Sunday.
The win at the SSC, though, didn't come on a platter. After they dominated the Lankans for two days and a session in this game, India had to sweat once the hosts fought back through hundreds by Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne.
After enforcing the follow on, the visitors were frustrated on Day 3 and in the early minutes of Day 4 when KL Rahul dropped a sitter at forward short leg to let off Karunaratne, who was batting on 96. Karunaratne completed his sixth Test hundred, and his fourth in the second innings, when he on drove Mohammad Shami for a four.
At the other end, tail-ender Malinda Pushpakumara, who came in as nightwatchman on Day three, too seemed to be putting a price on his wicket, and sweeping as well as any of his colleagues, before suffering a 'brain freeze,' as he lost his leg stump while trying to pull off a 'switch hit' against R Ashwin.
Much to India's relief, Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal didn't last long, as Ajinkya Rahane pulled off a superb catch at first slip off Jadeja. After he added 59 for the fifth wicket with Angelo Mathews, Karunaratne was done in by a typical Jadeja delivery which took off viciously after pitching, and brushed the batsman's glove before Rahane pocketed the catch.
Having dislodged Karunaratne, India weren't going to take long to wind up the proceedings, as the Lankans finished at 386 with Jadeja picking up a five-wicket haul and the man of the match award.