India post their second-highest Day 1 score in Test history
India's 399/3 against Sri Lanka on the first day of the Galle Test is the team's second-highest score on day one, and the highest first day score by India overseas. Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara scored centuries, marking the third instance of two Indians scoring centuries on day one. India's total also surpassed the highest first day total in SL.
The Indian batsmen cashed in on a flat track at the Galle International stadium and made the Sri Lankan bowlers toil hard throughout day 1 after winning the toss and opting to bat in the first Test on Wednesday.Centuries from opener Shikhar Dhawan (190) and Cheteshwar Pujara (144 not out) helped India reach 399/3 at stumps with Ajinkya Rahane also batting on 39.India rode on a 253-run second wicket effort between Dhawan and Pujara to surpass the highest ever first day's total of 351 runs in Sri Lanka.Later, Pujara and Rahane added another 113 runs for the fourth-wicket to take the visitors to their second ever highest opening day's total.Abhinav Mukund (12) and captain Virat Kohli (3) were the only two batsmen who failed to get going on a pitch which had no assistance whatsoever for the bowlers - pacers or spinners.As a result, India broke quite a few records during the day. Here's a look at the numbers from the first day's play.- 190 is the highest individual score for Shikhar Dhawan after the 187 he scored in his maiden Test innings against Australia in Mohali in March 2013.- 399/3 is India's highest total on Day 1 of an away Test. Previous best was 375/9 vs New Zealand at Wellington in 2009.- This is also India's third highest score on Day 1 of a Test match, home or away, and also the highest for any side vs Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.- This is only the third instance when India have opened the innings with two left-handers - Dhawan and Mukund after Gautam Gambhir-Irfan Pathan (2005) and Gambhir-Mukund (2011).