Sri Lanka India Most runs Angelo Mathews (339) | Captains Angelo Mathews Most wickets Dhammika Prasad (15) | |
Dates 6 August – 1 September 2015 Result India won the 3-match series 2–1 | ||
The Indian cricket team toured Sri Lanka from 6 August to 1 September 2015 to play a tour match and three Test matches. On 27 June, Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara said he would retire from international cricket after the second Test of the series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket Board confirmed the schedule of India's tour to Sri Lanka in August to September 2015. The tour started with a three-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka Board President's XI, followed by three Test matches. The Test matches were played at Galle, P Sara Oval, and SSC Colombo. The Indian team arrived in Sri Lanka on 4 August 2015.
Contents
Three different openers for India Shikhar Dhawan (134), Lokesh Rahul (108) and Cheteshwar Pujara (145) made centuries in the series. This was fifth time in Test history. The last happened in 1970 Ashes by John Edrich, Geoff Boycott and Brian Luckhurst for England.
India won the three-match series 2–1, and this was the first series win by India in Sri Lanka since 1993. This series win also gave India their first overseas Test series victory since the 2011 tour in the West Indies.
Squads
1 Murali Vijay was ruled out of the first Test and also last Test due to a hamstring injury.
2 Stuart Binny was added to India's squad before the second Test.
3 Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the last two matches after fracturing his right hand in the first Test.
4 Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out of the last Test due to a hamstring injury.
5 Naman Ojha and Karun Nair were added to India's squad before the third Test.
1st Test
The first Test of the series was a close affair. Sri Lanka, batting first, lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 183 just before tea on Day 1. India lost two wickets early, but consolidated their position. With centuries from opener Shikhar Dhawan and captain Virat Kohli, they took a 192 run lead. Sri Lanka in their second innings again started poorly. However, a counter-attacking century from Dinesh Chandimal with support from Lahiru Thirimanne and Jehan Mubarak set India a target of 176. Rangana Herath ripped through the Indian batting line up to take a 7 wicket haul and hand Sri Lanka the victory.
2nd Test
India brought in Murli Vijay for the injured Shikhar Dhawan and Stuart Binny for Harbhajan Singh and decided to bat first. Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane departed early but a fighting century from KL Rahul and fifties from Kohli and Rohit Sharma got India to 393 in their 1st innings. Sri Lanka again had a poor start but a 100+ partnership between Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne took Sri Lanka to a strong position before a collapse, leaving India with a lead of 87 runs. India in their 2nd innings consolidated their position with a century from Rahane and a 50 from an injured Vijay. Sri Lanka in their second innings were bowled out for 134 runs to hand India their biggest win in Sri Lanka. The Test marked the end of Kumar Sangakkara's international career.
3rd Test
Injury to Murli Vijay meant that India had their third different opening combination of the series. However, the start was still poor and on back of an unbeaten century from Cheteshwar Pujara and a fifty from Amit Mishra India scored 312. The Sri Lankan innings had a similar poor start and was reduced to 47/6 before debutant Kusal Perera and veteran Rangana Herath took Sri Lanka to 201. India in their 2nd innings were reduced to 7/3 but successive 50+ run partnerships between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and Stuart Binny meant India set a target of 384. Sri Lanka had another poor start until Mathews and Perea joined forces and took Sri Lanka from 109/5 to 248. Ashwin got the wicket of Perera after he was caught trying to reverse sweep which exposed the tail and led to India winning in the last session on the final day. Ishant Sharma, for his aggressive behavior was handed a one-match ban along with Dinesh Chandimal. This victory marked India's 1st victory in Sri Lanka since 1993 and Kohli's 1st series victory as skipper. Ashwin was named man of the series.