Virat Kohli does not need us, we need him: Bumrah
Bumrah, however, stressed that Kohli knows his cricket better than anyone else and that his experience of batting in these challenging conditions was essential from the team’s perspective.
India declared their second innings at 246/5, setting a target of 410 for Sri Lanka on the penultimate day of the third and final Test against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Tuesday.
Shikhar Dhawan (67), Virat Kohli (50), Rohit Sharma (50 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (49) contributed handsomely to the Indian cause.
Earlier in the morning session, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 373 in their first innings, conceding a lead of 163 runs to India.
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Resuming the second session of the Test at 51/2, Shikhar Dhawan (67) and Cheteshwar Pujara (49) played responsibly and added 55 runs to the score. However, Pujara was caught at slips by Angelo Mathews off Dhananjaya de Silva’s delivery.
Pujara’s 66-ball innings was decorated by five boundaries. With Dhawan, he established a 77-run partnership for the third-wicket partnership.
Following the dismissal of Pujara, Dhawan got the company of Kohli and the pair started troubling the Sri Lankan bowlers again.
Dhawan displayed impressive grit on his home ground and completed 2000 Test runs, before losing his wicket to Lakshan Sandakan. Celebrating his 32nd birthday on field, Dhawan slammed five boundaries and one six in his 91-ball innings.
For Sri Lanka, De Silva and Sandakan were the successful bowlers in the second session as both of them claimed a wicket each.
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