India skipper Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir reportedly disagreed over the declaration timing during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. According to a report by Cricblogger, the head coach overruled the captain’s decision to declare early on Day 2 to allow Dhruv Jurel to complete his century.
India posted 503 in the first innings before bowling Sri Lanka out for 290 early on Day 4. With poor weather around and India’s position in the WTC table in mind, Shubman Gill asked Sri Lanka to bat again. The visitors reduced the hosts to 229/6 by the end of Day 4, but Sri Lanka fought back on Day 5 to finish on 429/9.
Shubman Gill’s Early Declaration Decision Blocked by Gautam Gambhir
According to a CricBlogger report, Shubman Gill wanted to declare India’s first innings before tea on Day 2. However, Gautam Gambhir opposed the move because Dhruv Jurel was close to completing his century.
Gambhir’s decision kept India’s batters at the crease for longer than Shubman Gill had planned. Jurel eventually reached his hundred, helping India post a formidable 503 in their only innings of the Test.
The additional time spent batting, however, had a major impact later in the match. With India enforcing the follow-on, the bowlers had to carry a heavy workload, while there was not enough time left for the Indian batters to return to the crease and give them a much-needed break.
“There is growing concern that the coach is overruling the captain on too many occasions, and that appears to be happening far too often,” a source told CricBlogger.
Sri Lanka Secured Draw After Following On
India remained in a commanding position after bowling Sri Lanka out for 290 early on Day 4. The visitors had already scored 503, giving them a substantial 213-run first-innings lead.
With rain and poor weather threatening to reduce playing time, Gill enforced the follow-on. The move initially appeared to work perfectly, as India’s bowlers reduced Sri Lanka to 229/6 by the end of Day 4.
However, the hosts batted through the entire fifth day and finished on 429/9, successfully denying India another victory. Sonal Dinusha, who scored unbeaten 133 off 264 balls, frustrated India despite being under severe pressure for much of the second innings.
India’s bowlers bowled 89.4 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings before sending down another 154 overs after enforcing the follow-on. In total, India bowled 243 overs and also spent the final three days of the Test on the field.
India Secured Series Victory Despite Draw in Colombo Test
The Colombo result was only the 13th occasion in Test history when India failed to win after enforcing the follow-on. The previous instance came against Australia in Sydney in 2019. India still won the two-match series 1-0.
They had dominated the opening Test in Galle, securing a convincing 165-run victory before Sri Lanka fought back to earn the draw in Colombo. Devdutt Padikkal finished the series as India’s standout batter and received the Player of the Series award.
Padikkal scored 328 runs across three innings, including two centuries. Shubman Gill, meanwhile, bounced back in Colombo after a disappointing opening Test. He scored 16 and 8 in Galle but responded with a patient 50 off 108 balls in India’s only innings of the second Test.
