Dhawan, Pujara tons grind Lanka
ONESIDED Comebackman Dhawan’s careerbest 190 and Pujara’s unbeaten 144 lift India to record total I would have loved to have scored a 200. More than that, I got out at the wrong time. But the way I was playing, I was confident I could clear the midoff fielder. NUMBERED
things stayed according to Shikhar Dhawan’s original plans, he would have been holidaying with his family in Melbourne rather than playing in the opening Test against Sri Lanka which started at Galle on Wednesday.
After the Indian opener plundered 190 runs at a strike rate of 113 plus. The Sri Lanka bowlers would surely have preferred that. Dhawan was not part of the original squad and was lucky to get a double break against Sri Lanka. He was a replacement in the squad for Murali Vijay and then got into the playing eleven when KL Rahul reported ill at the last minute.
“My plans were to go to Melbourne and spend time with my family, do training and get fit for the one-day series. I was in Hong Kong actually on holiday, and from there I flew back to India and joined the team. I think destiny had a different plan for me. I am happy and I am thankful to God,” said Dhawan after a fruitful day for India.
Dhawan’s career-best knock helped the team reach 399 for three.
The ease with which Dhawan batted against the Sri Lankan bowlers showed he was enjoying the conditions. After adding hundred runs in a session, post lunch a double hundred was there for the taking. But Dhawan perished playing a