The first day of the first unofficial Test between India A and Sri Lanka A at Galle International Stadium was all India A owing to a wonderful hundred by Sai Sudharsan with the bat while Dhruv Jurel (75 not out) and Shaik Rasheed (43 not out) aided in putting runs on board. At the end of day 1, India A were already in a commanding position with their score reading 333 for 4 on the board from 97 overs in that four-day contest.
The visitors, after winning the toss and deciding to bat first, started steadily against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack. The partnership set up a strong platform before Sri Lanka A took the first wicket and put India A in kind of a spot. But there was no further collapse because Sudharsan took charge of the innings.
During the innings, the left-handed batter show exceptional patience and technical proficiency. He had a perfect balance of caution and aggression, punishing errant delivery to the fence while also rotating the strike. In 175 balls, he scored his 132 runs and classical boundaries. Sudharsan 163 has proven once more why he is one of India’s most exciting young red-ball batters.
Sudharsan forged vital partnerships in his stay at the crease. Having conceded only six runs from his first two, he struck with the second ball of his third over and through his partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad enabled a recovery after Chennai Super Kings lost early wickets following a solid opening stand. The pair clobbered the frustrated Sri Lankan bowlers and put India A in full control of the contest.
Finally, Sri Lanka A struck when Sudharsan was out after an outstanding century. But the hosts could not build on that. With Jurel and Rasheed defiant, the momentum remained firmly with India A. The duo forged an unbeaten and mature stand to guide India A safely till stumps.
On his captaincy debut in the unofficial Test series, Jurel had also displayed some great temperament with an innings of 68 not out. He kept to his unwavering style, occupying the crease and slowly but surely grinding down their bowlers. At the other end Rasheed was a perfect foil for his captain, ending the day 53 not out. They knitted an almost pristine stand of over 100 runs, gazumping Sri Lanka A.
The Sri Lankan bowlers did toil all day but slipped off the pressure whenever India A were set. The likes of Dilum Sudeera took wickets while Chamika Gunasekara also had his moments as well. However, the Indian batters showed enough application and all-round depth to ensure that the hosts never made any significant inroads.
It is also an important match because it falls within India’s pathway to development, which allows younger players the opportunity of getting acclimatised in opposing conditions. India A arrived into the Test series high on confidence after their most recent success in the outro-phase of the tri-series, and picked up on right from where they left off on Day 1.
India A will begin Day 2 looking to score beyond the total of a high 450-run against teams. Jurel and Rasheed are still at the crease, but the visitors have a fantastic opportunity to get a huge first-innings score here. Sri Lanka A will have to take early wickets if they want to get back into the contest.
The day, of course, belonged to Sai Sudharsan whose superlative looking century set India A up for a dominant performance and put the visitors in position to drive the rest of the game.
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