India captain Shubman Gill said on Thursday that failing to win the second Test against Sri Lanka was frustrating. However he praised his team for their effort and said the players showed ’10 out of 10′ commitment and intent throughout the drawn match.
Who led Sri Lanka’s heroic final-day resistance at SSC?
India had Sri Lanka at 229/6 after the fourth day. But on the final day, the hosts managed to bat through the entire day. Sonal Dinusha played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 133 to help Sri Lanka save the match at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Why did the pitch conditions make taking wickets so difficult for India?
‘It gets very frustrating. We attacked a lot in the beginning. But I think as the match went on, the wicket got slower. It was not like the ball was not moving and when the ball was spinning, the wickets were not in play. It was not like the wicket was very flat,’ said Gill at the post-match press meet.
How did Sri Lanka’s defensive approach frustrate the Indian bowling attack?
Shubman Gill said Sri Lanka’s batters focused only on defending their wickets, which made things more difficult for the Indian bowlers. ‘Unless you are playing a shot and looking to make a run, then it is difficult to take a wicket. We tried all that we could, and I don’t think there was any lack of intensity or the efforts that we put in. The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days.
What did Gill have to say about his team’s physical effort and WTC hopes?
‘Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions. I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. They also played really well,’ he added.
Did India believe they had enough chances on Day 4 to push for a win?
‘On day 4, we thought we had created chances. If there was a little more pressure, the wickets would have come and then maybe the result would have been better. But as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (final), it’s fine.’
Why was Mohammad Siraj bowling below his usual pace during the Test?
Mohammad Siraj bowled more slowly than usual in this Test and often used a shorter run-up. This has raised questions about his fitness, especially after he landed awkwardly while trying to take a catch during Sri Lanka’s first innings.
Is Mohammad Siraj carrying an injury following the second Test?
‘Firstly, Siraj is not injured. He didn’t feel well even in the first match (at Galle). He last played against Afghanistan in June…so he was playing almost after a couple of months. It takes time for someone to come back to the rhythm. Even in the first Test, we felt that his pace was slow. But sometimes when you play more, you come back to the rhythm. But as far as the injury is concerned, there is nothing,’ he said.
How did Prasidh Krishna step up as India’s lead pace bowler?
With Siraj not at his best, Prasidh Krishna took charge of India’s fast-bowling attack. Gill was happy with the way Krishna performed and showed his improvement. ‘I think he’s been in the pick of our bowlers. When things are not happening, he’s been our go-to bowler, especially this season. He’s created chances, which is what I want as a captain. We want a go-to bowler when wickets are not guaranteed. I think he did that brilliantly,’ he said.
What lies ahead for India in their road to the WTC final?
The India captain hopes his team can do better in the upcoming series against New Zealand, where they will play two Tests away from home, and Australia, who will visit India for a five-Test series. Strong results in these matches will be important for India’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship final.
What is India’s equation to secure a spot in the WTC final?
‘I still think we’ve got a pretty good chance to qualify for the WTC final. If we play the New Zealand series well and then, hopefully, by the time the Australia series comes, we just have to win the series. If we’re in a situation where we just have to win the series, I think we’ll be in a good position to qualify for the WTC,’ he noted.