India would have been the happier of the two sides after Day 1 of the First Test match in Mohali. The highlight of that day was another fine innings from Rishabh Pant, who hit 96 with four sixes, just when Sri Lanka threatened to get their foothold back in the match.
With Ravindra Jadeja on 45 and R. Ashwin on 10, India were looking to build further on their overnight score of 357/6.
Any hopes Sri Lanka might have entertained of a swift breakthrough on the second morning were quickly dashed as Jadeja and Ashwin batted with increasing confidence and fluency, adding another 105.
Then, at the stroke of lunch, Ashwin was caught behind off Suranga Lakmal. At the other end, Jadeja had brought up his second century in Test cricket.
Almost immediately after the resumption of play, Sri Lanka had more success when Vishwa Fernando got Jayant Yadav caught for just two.
That was the signal for Jadeja to up the scoring rate. With Mohammed Shami at the other end, he went on the attack, as the boundaries began to flow.
The pair added 103 before captain Rohit Sharma decided to put Sri Lanka out of their misery by declaring on 574/8 at tea.
At that point, Jadeja was on 175, his highest score in Test cricket, having hit three sixes and 17 fours, while Shami was on 20.
Openers Lahiru Thirimanne and Dimuth Karunaratne then gave Sri Lanka a steady start, putting on 48 for the first wicket until Ashwin had Thirimanne leg before for 17.
It was then Jadeja’s turn to make an impact with the ball. He struck Karunaratne on the back pad in front of the stumps when the latter had scored 28. Karunaratne reviewed the decision but it stood.
Sri Lanka were looking for big things from Pathum Nissanka and Angelo Mathews. But Mathews was the next to go, for 22, leg before to Jasprit Bumrah.
Sri Lanka then lost Dhananjaya de Silva, leg before to Ashwin for just a single.
Nissanka and Charith Asalanka managed to see out the rest of the day. Sri Lanka, 108/4 at stumps, need another 267 to avoid the follow on with six first innings wickets remaining.
India 574/8 decl. (Ravindra Jadeja 175*; Suranga Lakmal) lead Sri Lanka 108/4 (Dimuth Karunaratne 28; R. Ashwin 2- 21) by 466 runs.