Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said that Team India must be wary of their struggles in batting in the second innings despite the emphatic 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle. Karthik specifically mentioned that the Indian batters were throwing away their wickets to the Sri Lankan pacers in the second innings on a spin-friendly wicket as well.

Talking about India’s second-innings on his Instagram handle, Karthik said: “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 that here on in any Test match they play.”

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“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. The art of a good bowler is to try and finish things off and pick quick wickets when required, and he did that,” he again added.

Dinesh Karthik applauded Devdutt Padikkal for his batting in both innings of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka. Playing his first Test for India in almost two years, he top-scored for them in the first innings with 167 off 230 balls and then 44 in the second innings as well.

“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,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.