It was dominant, it was clinical, it was comprehensive and the numbers show it. India were all over Sri Lanka in the first Test of their series in Galle, beating Rangana Herath’s hapless team by 304 runs on Saturday.
There never was a contest – India dominated almost all sessions of play with the Lankans never having a chance. Shikhar Dhawan was the player of the match for his first innings score of 190 off only 168 balls. Captain Virat Kohli scored his 17th Test century in the second innings and after hitting an unbeaten 103, declared on 240/3, setting Sri Lanka a near-impossible target of 550 to win.
This was India’s biggest ever Test win but there were some other interesting numbers from the victory as well.
The big numbers:
- This was India’s largest Test win abroad, eclipsing their 279-run win over England in Leeds in 1986. It was also their fourth biggest win overall.
India's win margin of 304 runs:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) July 29, 2017
- Biggest v SL in Tests
- Biggest outside India in Tests
- 4th biggest in Tests #SLvIND
India's largest Test wins (runs):
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) July 29, 2017
337 v SA, Delhi, 2015
321 v NZ, Indore, 2016
320 v Aus, Mohali, 2008
304 v SL, Galle, 2017#SLvIND
- With this win, the Virat Kohli behemoth just keeps rolling on. This is his fifth win outside India and puts him in special company.
Most wins for Indian captains outside India in Tests:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) July 29, 2017
11 - S Ganguly
6 - MS Dhoni
5 - R Dravid, VIRAT KOHLI* #SLvIND
- Kohli also found the time to stroke his way to his 17th Test century, shrugging off a slight dip in form. And captaincy certainly suits him...
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Most centuries by Indian captains in Tests:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) July 29, 2017
11 - Sunil Gavaskar
10 - VIRAT KOHLI*
9 - Mohammad Azharuddin #SLvIND
And the century took his Test batting average, which had dipped a little, to above 50, making him the best all-format player currently.
Kohli's averages:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) July 29, 2017
Tests - 50.03
ODIs - 54.68
T20Is - 52.96
- Only player with 50+ average in all 3 International formats.
- This win also continues India’s brilliant run of form and gave them their 18th win in the last 28 matches. That’s better than any other team. Kohli’s return to Galle, after a shock loss in 2015, was triumphant.
Since Boxing Day Test of 2014
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 29, 2017
WINS
18 (28) Ind
15 (30) Aus
13 (33) Eng
11 Pak (23)/NZ (25)/SL (27)
10 SA (25)#SLvInd
Since losing to Sri Lanka in the Galle Test match in August 2015... India's record - Played 24, won 18, lost 1, Drawn 5 (Win% 75.00)#SLvInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 29, 2017
- Spare a thought for Sri Lanka though. They just seem to be getting worse and worse. With two more Tests incoming and a planned tour of India later this year, it’s hard to see how they will improve.
Two of SL's top-three biggest Test defeats have come this year.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) July 29, 2017
304 runs v Ind, Galle
282 runs v SA, Cape Town#SLvIND
Also Sri Lanka's biggest defeat at home by run margin. Pakistan had beaten them by 301 runs at Colombo PSS in 1994.#SLvIND
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) July 29, 2017