Folks, here is where the test is poised. India did well to wrap up the Sri Lankan tail quickly. Sri Lanka were all out for 230, giving the Indian cricket team an invaluable 60 run lead. Kumble finished with 6 for 72. At the end of the day, India were at 237 for 5, leading by 297.

Test matches are decided in a few crucial sessions. Invariably, over 5 days, test matches provide both teams opportunities to win. The team which takes it’s chances wins. At 175 for 2, Sri Lanka had a great chance to bat India out of the match but collapsed to Kumble and are almost out of the match now. By batting well in the second innings India have taken their chance and should now win. I cannot see Sri Lanka score much beyond 250 batting last.

The decision to open with Irfan was inspired. Irfan batted with great assurance and showed true class. He played with a straight bat and hit one of the best straight drives I have seen for some time. He tends to downplay his batting, understandably, but it obviously holds great promise. I cannot but point out that people who were gunning for Greg Chappell only recently, must eat some humble pie in public. I do not recall the Indian cricket team showing such tactical flair in recent memory. We have always been an utterly predictable side tactically and Greg deserves a large part of the credit for changing that.

Irfan scored 93 and Dravid scored an attractive 53 before getting run out. Yuvraj and Saurav are at the crease on 28 and 22 respectively. In a few hours from now the outcome of this test will have been settled.