The second Test match between India Vs Sri Lanka is being played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. India has already taken a one-nil lead in the series, and their bowlers have brought them back in the match.

The batters disappointed the fans. But Shreyas Iyer played a fine innings of 92 runs and held the innings together for the home team.

The hosts made just one change in their playing XI. Axar Patel replaced Jayant Yadav, while Sri Lanka had to make forced changes in their squad. Kusal Mendis was brought in for Pathum Nissanka, and Praveen Jayawickrama was also included as the second spinner.

The openers failed to provide a start which India needed –

The Indian openers didn’t even get the desired opening stand this time. In the last Test match, Rohit and Mayank had put on 53 runs for the first wicket at Mohali. But Mayank Agarwal was out in a bizarre way to start the procedings for India. Agarwal was run out for just four runs after adding only 10 runs on the board.

Mayank was run out on a no-ball. He had an LBW appeal which was turned down. But Agarwal went for a run and had a miscommunication with his skipper at the other end.

Even Rohit Sharma couldn’t survive after the start, which India got. The skipper was out for just 15 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva took a good low catch of Lasik Embuldeniya’s bowling.

Sri Lankan bowlers were good in the 1^st session of the day’s play –

India had struggled after the openers were out cheaply. The Sri Lankan bowlers did a good job in holding the Indian batters down, especially after the thrashing they got in Mohali. Virat and Vihari were the ones who took the innings forward with a mini stand.

The Lankans had a slight error of the judgment with their line and length. Hanuma Vihari and Virat Kohli made full of use of that and fetched a boundary every time they bowled short balls. But again, Sri Lanka bounced back with a much-needed breakthrough.

Praveen Jayawickrama was the man who did it for Sri Lanka. He wasn’t that lethal in the first few overs he bowled. But he picked up the wicket of Hanuma Vihari for 31 runs. The Jayawhickarama delivery spun and turned, which helped the ball get the edge of Vihari’s bat. The 1^st session went in Sri Lanka’s favor as they also got Virat Kohli for 23 runs.

Dhananjay de Silva also struck for Sri Lanka from the other end. He picked up the big fish, Virat Kohli. The former Indian skipper was out because the ball stayed low. India had scored 86 runs in the 1^st session, and they had lost four vital wickets.

Shreyas Iyer was the man who propelled India towards the 250 run mark –

After Virat Kohli was out, Shreyas Iyer walked to bat in the last over before the lunch break. Pant was going strong, and he was also handed another chance. Suranga Lakmal had dropped Pant near the boundary ropes. The wicket-keeper batter from India didn’t quite make full use of it. But he entertained the Bengaluru crowd with his fantastic shots.

Lasik Embuldeiya ended the entertaining knock of Pant for 39 runs, and Sri Lanka also got the price scalp of Ravindra Jadeja, who stole the show in Mohali. Jaddu scored just four runs in the Pink Ball Test match, and Lasik Embuldeniya picked the wicket of Jadeja. India looked lost in this game.

Thanks to Shreyas Iyer, who played a gem of a knock on a difficult pitch. Shreyas Iyer played his first match with the Pink Ball, and he smashed a half-century. He was the last man to be dismissed.

Ashwin played an excellent supporting role. But he was also dismissed for 13 runs, and Shami was out early. Still, Shreyas Iyer carried out his excellent work for the team. He had a hundred on his mind. But unfortunately, he missed his second Test century by eight runs, and he also missed a chance of being the second Indian batter to score a hundred in the Pink Ball Test match.

Shreyas Iyer was out on 92 runs, and he single-handedly helped to post a score of 252 runs in their 1^st innings. The bowling was good from the visitors. The spinners came into action on a turning surface. Embuldeniya and Jayawickrama picked up three wickets each while Lakmal picked up one and de Silva picked up two scalps to his name.

The Indian Bowlers were good again –

The problematic batting lineup of Sri Lanka once again failed to deliver. The poorest top order lost three quick wickets with just 14 runs on the board. Bumrah and Shami sizzled under the lights. Due to them, India had the day one honors.

Otherwise, it was an ordinary day for the home team. Under lights, the Indian pacers looked even more lethal, and the visitors had no answers to their swing and seaming deliveries. Bumrah picked Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thiramane first and Angelo Matthews later. Then Mohammad Shami clean bowled Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya De Silva was out LBW.

Angelo Matthews and Charitha Asalanka showed some resistance while the other just fell to the superb bowling of the Indians. For a change, Ashwin and Jadeja didn’t get a wicket to their names on the 1^st day, while Axar Patel, the third spinner, got the scalp of Dhannanjaya De Silva.

Sri Lanka has scored 86 runs and lost six wickets in their 30 overs. The visitors are still 166 runs behind. India needs four wickets to end the Sri Lankan 1^st innings quickly, and this time they will look to bat and not enforce the follow-on. India will want to hold a firm grip with their batting in the 2^nd innings.