India may enforce follow-on as rain disrupts Colombo Test
India said it could enforce the follow-on in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo at stumps on Day 3, when Sri Lanka were 265/8 in 83.4 overs, trailing India’s 503/9d by 238 runs. Only 222 overs have been bowled across the first three days due to untimely rain interruptions.
Sri Lanka ended the day requiring 39 more runs to avoid the follow-on, with Sonal Dinusha unbeaten on 85 and part of a ninth-wicket stand that had lasted more than 15 overs by the close. India held the second new ball, which was 3.2 overs old and had created more chances than the older, softer ball.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel set out the immediate objective in Colombo: "That will be the first prize that we can get those two wickets tomorrow early," India's bowling coach Morne Morkel said. "I know it's a cliche thing, but you know, with the weather around and sometimes the time it takes with taking the covers on and off, we want to try and get as many overs as possible to the Sri Lankans. So hopefully, we can get those wickets tomorrow and then be brave, put them in, and bowl well."
Teams generally opt to bat again after a large first-innings lead to try to bat the opposition out before bowling on a deteriorating surface, but the weather in Colombo has made the follow-on a more attractive option. India last enforced the follow-on under Shubman Gill's captaincy against the West Indies in Delhi last year; in that match India had to bowl 118.5 overs to dismiss the West Indies for the second time before chasing down 121 on the fifth day.
India bowled 80.4 overs on Day 3 but took only six wickets as the pitch continued to offer good conditions for batting and the ball softened quickly in the heat. "It is hard work out there, you know," Morkel said. "I think sometimes even us, we get sucked in that expectation where we think it looks slightly dry and we need to bowl teams out for under 200. But unfortunately, at times it's not gonna work like that. It's tough conditions; it's hot, hot conditions. The ball goes soft quite quickly."
Morkel described the day as a learning opportunity for India’s bowlers and emphasised building pressure through partnerships. "As the boys walked in there tonight, I said to them it is a proper day of Test cricket, and this is how we're gonna learn. This is how we're gonna grow. We always talk about bowling in partnerships, about creating pressure, and this is how you develop it - on days like today, when there's a batting partnership going [on]. You can break it. The key is to define that breakthrough, and then how well can you start your next thing."
India also reported a fitness concern for wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who retired hurt with a wrist injury while batting before returning and being struck on the shoulder by short balls. "Rishabh obviously got hit on the shoulder. I think it was discussed last night," Morkel said. "It is quite badly bruised. I think he was just a little bit restricted in his movement this morning when he tried to warm up. I think they'll keep on monitoring him now overnight, and hopefully, he'll be behind the stumps for us tomorrow. I think it's important to have him there. His reading of the game is exceptional."
India would not shy away from enforcing the follow-on against Sri Lanka in Colombo if they get the chance, and their immediate objective is to take the remaining wickets early on Day 4 so they can consider that option amid the weather-affected match.
