India outclassed Sri Lanka by an innings and 171 runs in the third Test at Pallekele to whitewash the hosts 3-0. Sri Lanka’s resistance towards avoiding a humiliating clean sweep in the series lasted for only three days in the final Test.
The pattern of victory was eerily similar to that of the first two wins. Skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. Indian batsmen didn’t disappoint their captain and put up another massive total on the board and from thereon it was battle of attrition once again, led by Indian bowlers.
Kuldeep Yadav was the hero of the first innings with four wickets, while veteran and India’s premier bowler Ravichandran Ashwin picked up four wickets in the second innings to lead India to a massive and historic victory.
Hardik Pandya was adjudged man of the match for his quick-fire century at number eight position in the first innings. Shikhar Dhawan was awarded with the man of the series trophy for his successful exploits with bat in the series.
Historic whitewash
This is first instance of India whitewashing another Test playing nation away from home (minimum 3-Test series). And overall, it’s the fifth time that the Indian team has whitewashed a Test series (minimum 3-Test series).
Here are other interesting stats from India’s clean sweep
1 – For the first Sri Lanka have also two consecutive Test matches at home by an innings. They lost the second Test by an innings and 53 runs
2 – This was India’s second biggest (by an innings and 171 runs) away win. Their biggest win came against Bangladesh in 2007 at Dhaka, where they won by an innings & 239 runs
3 – Second instance of Sri Lanka getting whitewashed at home in a series of three Test matches or more. The last it happened was against Australia in 2004
5 – India have beat Sri Lanka in all of the last five Test matches
9 – With nine wins against Sri Lanka, India have become the most successful away Test side in the island nation
Feature image: Reuters