A day of intense cricket ended with India at 247 for 6. India have the advantage considering that Sri Lanka will bat last. Rahul Dravid is indisposed and Sehwag returned to the side as captain. The absence of a certain Saurav Ganguly meant that Mohammad Kaif got a look in.

Retaining Gambhir in the side is the right decision. He averages 37.4 in 12 tests with 1 hundred and 3 fifties. Most importantly, he has given our opening combination the stability we had sorely missed earlier. He fell for 19 trying to hook Malinga who bowled several short balls. Sehwag fell soon after, for 20, making it 52 for 2. Tendulkar (20), Yuvraj (0) and Kaif (4) followed to leave India tottering at 97 for 5.

VVS, batting at No. 3, was playing without trouble as wickets fell around him. He was watchful but played some sublime drives. Every now and then, he produced the geometry defying flicks that only he can. He wields the willow like a magic wand and is always a delight to watch for the sheer artistry of his batting.

Laxman was joined by Dhoni, who came up trumps again, scoring a very clean 49 off only 62. I thought he showed very good shot selection. He has the uncanny ability to make batting look simple. I like the conviction with which he bats. In the end, he was undone by a big Murali off spinner that caught him plumb on the backfoot.

Irfan is unbeaten on 39 with Laxman on 71.

The pitch is already beginning to turn. A few deliveries kept low and Malinga was able to extract bounce consistently. Malinga has a peculiar action, to say the least, and I think the Indian batsmen found it difficult to read him early. He does bowl at a good pace and I just wonder what he would do at Perth. If India score around 350 they will not lose this test. I had predicted a 1-0 result when this series started. I think Sri Lanka will have to bat out of their skins to avoid a final 2-0 scoreline.

A word about the ongoing Australia – South Africa series. The South Africans should mind their words as they are going to be soundly beaten in this series. They are a good bowling side but their batting is miles behind the Aussies, who are going to make it count. The South Africans will be more competitive in the ODI’s but in the tests, the Aussies will win with some to spare.

I consider the Ashes loss an aberration on their part. This is something they will correct with devastating effect in OZ the next time around. Just watch this space.

Just one word of advice for Kiran More and the other selectors – time to stand up to blackmail, gentlemen. You have made the right decision. More to follow.