Team India has done it again by whitewashing Sri Lanka by winning the third and the final Test with a margin of an innings and 171 runs. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 181 in the second innings after asked to follow on by the Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

R Ashwin, Mohammad Shami and the two Yadav’s Kuldeep and Umesh share the wickets among themselves in the second innings. After the end of the match, during the post-match press conference, Kohli clearly stated that Hardik Pandya was the find of the series for India.

Hardik had broken a bunch of records when he scored his maiden international century in 86 balls. He made his Test debut earlier in the series in the first Test at Galle. His hundred helped India to reach the total of 487, which came out to be more than sufficient for Sri Lanka.

During the post-match press conference, Kohli said, “I think the regulars have performed the way they have been for the past two years. But I think the biggest positive would be Hardik’s inclusion, the way he shaped up in the first three Test matches. I think the kind of confidence he showed with the ball… and maturity with the bat as well. He really gives us the boost, a lot of balance as far as the composition of the side is concerned.”

He further elaborated, “The usual suspects are always there… Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) and Pujji (Cheteshwar Pujara) were magnificent. KL (Rahul) coming back, Abhinav (Mukund) grabbing his chances, spinners — both of them champion spinners — Kuldeep grabbed his opportunity, fast bowlers again doing their job so, we are very happy with the overall performance of the team but the biggest positive for me would be Hardik Pandya.”

India and Sri Lanka will now lock horns for a 5-match ODI series which is scheduled to commence from August 20 at Dambulla.