Former Indian keeper-batter and commentator Dinesh Karthik has advised the Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, to be wary of their batting in the second innings as they threw their wickets to pacers, getting all out for 193 runs.
Speaking on his Instagram handle, Karthik shared his views on India’s 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series in Galle. The former keeper reckoned that India needs to be wary of their batting line-up in the second Test.
“Things got a bit tricky in the second innings. When you think of Sri Lanka and Galle, you would think the spinners would pick up wickets. But the Sri Lankan pacers got six wickets in the second innings, which is something India should be wary of here on in any Test match they play,” Dinesh Karthik said on his Instagram handle.
“India got to 462 in the first innings, which basically means 50% of the Test match is in India’s hands. When they got Sri Lanka to 90/5 in the first innings, you thought this match could be done in three days,” he added.
Furthermore, Karthik has heaped praise on the top players of the first Test – Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar. While Padikkal scored 211 runs across both innings of the Test, Suthar scalped a 10-wicket match haul.
“The art of a good bowler is to try and finish things off and pick quick wickets when required, and he (Suthar) did that,” he stated.
“Devdutt Padikkal stood out in both innings. Though he only got 44 in the second innings, it was laced with composure, elegance and quality stroke-making,” he concluded.
India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the second and final Test of the two-match series, starting on Sunday, August 23 at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
