India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Sri Lanka tour of India, 2017 - CommentaryIND vs SL, 3rd Test, Sri Lanka tour of India, 2017 - Commentary

Harsha Bhogle: Interesting aspect of last two tests was that India went away from the 5 bowlers plan. Maybe eye on South Africa

Harsha Bhogle: So 1-0 fair result. Weather didn't allow a result in Kolkata and Sri Lanka earned a draw here. An innings and 239 in Nagpur, the huge difference between the sides though

Ashutosh: How are the light conditions there? Any chances that the match might be cut-short due to bad lights? -- Light looks fine. Should last for the whole hour

Harsha Bhogle: Pertinent to note that on a 5th day wicket, even if as flat as this, India have managed merely 2 wickets in 73 overs.

shashwat: why aren't they putting spinners on now -- They had just taken the second new ball, so it's worth trying a few overs with pace. I'm sure spin will be brought in very soon. Here's Jadeja as I type this

Taj: At the end of the day, will Sri Lanka be happy that they drew this test or sad that they lost the series? -- They should be delighted if they save this. Not many gave them a chance yesterday

Chirag S: How about lights in Delhi???? We will get full overs or not???? -- Given India's over-rate today, we'll definitely get the 90 overs in. They might bowl a few more too, unless bad light kicks in before 4.30pm

Aakash Malviya: Can Dhananjaya de Silva come back to bat if he feels well and wants to save the test? -- Yes. And I'm sure he will

Harsha Bhogle: Dhananjaya de Silva going off. Gives India the opportunity to bowl at a new batsman. Presumably it was impossible to continue but this could be a big moment.

Sai Eswar: Kohli should try some part time bowlers just to break the monotony. It can force the batsmen little cut loose and break their rhythm

AMIT VIKAS OAK: Replying to Shrikanth Reddy - I think South Africa will be always keen to prepare green wickets. Even India has a bunch of fast bowlers. We have seen many times, Indian batsmen are vulnerable against the quality pacers.

Srikanth Reddy: Adding to Jacob's point, I guess India may get batting pitches in SA, considering the current fast bowling assets India has, unlike the Sri Lanka series where SA hosted games on green fields

Jacob Alias: After the second Test defeat of England at the hands of Australia, i feel that all the top five teams in test cricket are strong against each other when they play at home conditions. Will have to wait till the India vs SA series

AMIT VIKAS OAK: India should not panic here.They will get chances.Only one wicket here could turn the things completely -- We all saw Sri Lanka's lower order collapse in the first innings, didn't we?!

UTKARSH: @Pramod But this is not a blockathon. This is some real good positive batting -- It really isn't. The intent shown by these two is great

Pramod: India were able to break the 'blockathon' of South Africa 2 years back. No reason why this can't be repeated!

Gaurav: If Lankans keep on playing like this, they will fancy their chance of winning this -- Now, now, let's not get carried away here

Tanmay: Where was this fighting attitude of Lankans in 1st two tests. They are going beautifully -- Really admirable fight, but the pitch has played a part too

Rajan: In hindsight, do you think India should have gone with 5 bowlers? Also considering that batting has been pretty easy on this pitch. Were Rohit Sharma's knocks really that important? -- India should have absolutely gone in with five bowlers for this pitch

Pradeep: It is not going to be easy for Sri Lankan players to withstand the turn form Ashwin and Jadeja, but Chandimal has the potential to hold one end with his batting skill

Shobhit: The way these guys are batting, seems to me the Lankans would at max be 6-7 wickets down by the end the day's play, with De Silva and Chandimal being the heroes for their side, saving the match -- That's premature to say, but yes, the pitch looks good to bat on for another five days

Harsha Bhogle: I am enjoying watching Dhananjaya Da Silva bat here. Positive intent, plays shots. Better player of spin than pace?

anurag: Good riddance with mathews!! Got 4 lives in the 1st innings, ran out of luck in this one!!

Harsha Bhogle: Brilliant from Jadeja. And the best slip fielder in this side, Rahane, makes a sharp chance look easy. Looking even tougher for Sri Lanka.

Soumya Jyoti: What is the rule regarding use of flood lights in Test matches ? Surely they are not used to full effect -- That's a grey area for me too. From what I'm aware of, if the teams agree on using the floodlights before the series, then they can be used. Now the catch is that artificial light shouldn't take over natural light. The umpires are in charge of all that.

Bhavesh: Kotla is known for its 4-5 day spin, is that also under the mask?? don't see much turn here -- I didn't see the sun much either, so the pitch has stayed together

CHIVA: The match is very well poised. It depends on the Lankans approach to decide the proceedings. Remember India is playing with only four bowlers -- Believe me, they'll be thrilled with a draw. They aren't going for this.

Prateek: I still can't digest that this Sri Lankan side has beaten Pakistan in UAE. How did they do that? -- Pakistan aren't the same Pakistan without Misbah and Younis

Senthilkumar V: As the pitch is not threatening yet, Is there any possibility for Sri Lanka to win the match.? Remember they have comfortably chased 320 plus score in Champions trophy against India in 50 overs -- No

Sourabh: India should declare immediately after getting to the lead of 400, i don't think they will have enough overs to bowl SL out if they delay -- That's the general feeling

Harsha Bhogle: Declaration soon, I think. India will have overs in mind. Maybe 120. Unless they are more confident!

sagar malik: who is the best bowler in 2017? ..I think it should be Nathan Lyon because he has picked wickets in all conditions

Kaarthikram: South Africa having a boxing day test match against Zimbabwe. Dean Elgar has chance to finish with top run scorer in this calendar year.

Nitesh Gupta: Can Kohli break the record of most runs in a calendar year across all formats? Needs only 100 runs.

NIK: I think Dhawan & Vijay will be the first choice openers for SA series as both are in good form and it will also give an advantage of right hand - Left hand combination.

Nikhil Thukral: Being a Delhite myself, it would be pleasure to watch the Delhi boys to thrash the ball all around the park for next 2 hours, while Sri Lankans would be seen running around the park covering their faces with masks :)

Venkat: 49? It hurts. Feel sad for him. Played beautifully so far.

karan chhabra: For now, Pujara and Dhawan have reversed their roles.

Shailesh Dhiman: Is Dhawan making a case for SA??? -- You mean, by showing he can absorb the pressure and play a different style? I don't think that's the case, but it's an interesting line of thought

Sai Korlakunta: Pujara overtook Dean Elgar to be a top scorer in Tests 2017, 1122 Runs with an average of 70.12 -- And still going..

Sujnan: This is so unusual for someone like Ajinkya Rahane who is known for his consistency and disciplined batting for which he is in the team. Are there any chances of him losing his place in South Africa? -- Not if I was picking the team

Harsha Bhogle: Well........Rahane tried attacking his way out of trouble. Didn't work. Feel for him

dhruv: What's changed in the wicket all of a sudden? Seems to be a much tougher one to bat on? Or is it just the Sri Lankan's bowling better? -- Much better discipline with the ball

dibyashakti: Why the scoring hasn't accelerated yet? -- Think India will play conventional cricket at least till lunch

Harsha Bhogle: I like this flexibility in the Indian camp. Now giving Rahane as much time in the middle before South Africa

Sathish: I think SL team should have yo-yo test before the team selection

Murali: Slightly irrelevant to the context of this match to start with, for SA tour, India have named FIVE fast bowlers, all right armers, but will it not be better to have atleast one left arm fast medium to add variety? -- I'm not aware if there is anyone around who's made a case

Rajendra Singh: Chance for India to bat 60 overs and give them a target of around 400 runs to chase in remaining 1 and half day. Spinners, I think will win the match for India.

Harsha Bhogle: This is an outstanding spell from Ashwin on a pitch that is giving him little. Is pulling the game India's way. Sri Lanka are undoing all the good work from the first two sessions. 477 balls between Mathews and Chandimal and now 3 wickets in 17 balls.

Rajesh Pavan: We have seen so many times Sadeera's poor technique against the quick bowlers...He looks comfortable against spinners...Time for Virat bring Shami and Ishant on!! -- He looks scratchy against the spinners as well.

Dixit Kaushal: I really hope that this fine innings played by the two giants of Sri Lankan cricket will give a lot of confidence to the batsmen to follow. Hopefully we get to see a good fight by the Lankans from here.

RK: When India was in England last time they had an upper hand after a win at Lord's on a green track. In the third test England was under pressure and Jadeja missed a catch of Alastair Cook and we all know how things changed. So if India needs to win overseas they should strengthen the slip cordon. -- Thanks for the throwback.

Steve: Has the ball started turning or is it still a flat track?. I saw that both Sandakan and Perera able to turn the ball when bowling slow on the first 2 days. -- Yes for Ashwin. The odd one for Jadeja.

User: Why Ashwin is not bowling? -- Even we are trying to find out.

Gaurav: Why Ashwin is not bowling? -- Even we are trying to find out.

Aashish: Sorry Sambit, but i believe your beliefs are misplaced. Subcontinent pitches and pitches in SAF are completely different. Not to forget the intensity of the pace attacks.

Sambit: I would like to believe that this series did serve an important part - that of getting Rohit back into the groove of test cricket - apart from keeping our batsmen in high spirits before an all important overseas tour. I get this feeling, Rohit is going play a very important part in SA -- Fair enough

Harsha Bhogle: He has ridden his luck but Angelo Mathews has hung in there and showed us why he has to be up the order for Sri Lanka.

Shikhar: In a month's time India's batting will be tested by Rabada, Morkel and Co. Apart from the Eden Gardens none of the other venues offered a seam bowler friendly track. I'm not sure if this series served any purpose apart from strengthening India's dominance on home turf and setting few batting records -- If you're viewing this series as just a stepping stone, and you're not alone, then that's right.

Inaam Mir: Now Kohli may be feeling the need of a fifth bowler. In any format a fifth bowler is indispensable and India has no regular part-timers either to share the work load -- 'Regular part-timers'. Love it. But yeah, this is a pitch which warrants five bowlers the most.

Pushap Kant Chehal: Amid all the controversy about pollution in Delhi, Sri Lankan resolve in the form of Chandimal & Mathews is like a breeze of fresh air & treat to watch. That being said, is India missing Bhuvi?? -- A quality bowler like him will always be missed, but both of India's pacers here have bowled really well too.

Harsha Bhogle: This is the kind of determined, controlled batting that Sri Lankan fans would have been waiting for. Not been easy for Mathews and Chandimal but have played like batting leaders should.

Srikanth: I think its time for Ash. In the last match also, he was introduced late into attack and took 3 wickets straight away.

Prabhash: Watching the match live from stadium...and still reading commentary on cricbuzz to understand what's happening in the middle -- That's how you do it

JULIN JAMES: Yes we admit there is pollution in Delhi, but here the Sri Lankan players, especially captain Chandimal, are over-reacting. The large crowd and the Indian players are not feeling uneasy. They too have lungs -- Let's not doubt Sri Lanka's intentions. There is a definite problem there which is well documented, and their players were visibly uncomfortable.

Shamit Sharma: Shouldn't Ajinkya Rahane field at first slip for pacers -- I second that. First slip or perhaps second slip, but definitely in the slips.

Harsha Bhogle: Sri Lanka's best phase in the match; experienced batsmen showing their teammates that this is actually a nice pitch to bat on.

Harsha Bhogle: I have always wondered why Sri Lanka's two best batsmen bat together when the team has lost three wickets.

Ayush Garg: Vijay, Pujara and Rahane should be India's slip fielders. The most important virtue of slip fielding is patience and these 3 are India's best in this regard. Dravid, Laxman are best examples. -- Valid point.

Sai Rajesh: With all the abroad tours coming up, Indians should be practicing hard on their slip catching. Imagine if you drop a catch of ABD or Amla.. Say bye bye to the series.

Vasishta: Where is India's best slip fielder Ajinkya Rahane? -- Always at gully to the pacers.

Harsha Bhogle: Very impressed with the new ball bowlers charging in from the 1st ball. As it should be.

Harsha Bhogle: A long long time since I have been at a Test match where a Test team didn't have enough people left to field. Sri Lanka's physio and fielding coach were changed and ready.

Harsha Bhogle: More trouble. Sri Lanka don't have a seamer left with Gamage and Lakmal both going off. Manager out. Ravi Shastri out (and he isn't the manager!). Not good.

Harsha Bhogle: Meanwhile, a standing ovation for Kohli as he walks off having compiled his highest test score. And Sandakan getting the ball to turn in sharply at last.

Affan: Perhaps pollution interrupting cricket would open people's eye and make them realise the grave problem that needs a solution -- I always knew cricket transcends..

Harsha Bhogle: This stalemate is going nowhere. Either you play with masks or go off. It looks terrible but you have to find the best possible way of keeping the game going.

Rahul: Sri Lanka will probably look to get past Kohli's score first when they get to bat

Harsha Bhogle: There are few worse feelings in a game than when you are waiting for a declaration; and realise you are effectively out of ammunition.

Harsha Bhogle: Till 2016, Virat Kohli didn't have a single double century. Now he has six. Shows you that great players make a good phase really count.

Shridhar: King Kohli will complete triple century today -- One milestone at a time please

Harsha Bhogle: 71 in 15 overs this morning. It is as if close of play never happened. No pressure at all.

Neeraj: Am I the only one who thinks Delhi is too polluted to be hosting international matches? This kind of haze cannot be good for the players -- So what do you recommend? A pollution test to determine if a particular venue is satisfactory? Cricket would disappear from half the world this way.

Harsha Bhogle: Two fine stumpings from Dickwella bring some cheer to Sri Lanka at the end of a long day.

Abhishek: Sri Lanka not taking the new ball might well be a move to stop the flow of runs as it tends to go for runs with set batsmen playing. They may also be waiting for a new batsman to take the new ball. -- Point.

Akshat: Why would Sri Lanka not take the new ball? The spinners aren't able to do much anyway. Might as well give the quicks a crack at the batsmen. -- Even the quicks have hardly troubled the batsmen.

Rajan: Rahane's hands must be itching to come out and bat! -- He has a history of throwing it away in such situations

Shreyansh: Why hotspot is not available in Indian home matches? -- BCCI may not have opted for it. Anyway, with this newly improved UltraEdge version, there's not much use for Hot Spot in my opinion

Harsha Bhogle: When two eye-catching batsmen bat through a session, it can be fun to watch. But apart from 2-3 balls, neither Vijay nor Kohli had any opposition.

Murali: Earlier in this series, SL used to tighten at least one end of the bowling but today that's not the case! Otherwise India's batting lineup is dominant. The latter is the reason looking at the match. -- You mean at Eden Gardens, where there was plenty of grass.

Harsha Bhogle: No two innings are alike. In Nagpur, Kohli got 80 out of 213 in boundaries. Today 52 out of 72.

Harsha Bhogle: Sometimes you get to see a batsman in complete control of a situation, almost looking invincible. At this stage, Virat Kohli is in that zone.

Ajesh Banerjee: Delhi is keen to see Virat scoring his first century at Feroz Shah Kotla -- I can imagine

Gnanesh: What do you meant by soft dismissal mentioned in the case of Pujara?? -- For a player who puts as high a price on their wicket as Pujara does, that dismissal was a giveaway

Murali: So far in this series, this is the best batting pitch, India making use of it with elegance.

Harsha Bhogle: India might rue the two wickets they have lost but will still believe they won the session.

Akash Ambade: If there is anything equally elegant than a trademark Kohli cover drive, then it has to be Vijay's cover drive! Wow!

Harsha Bhogle: Pujara will be kicking himself. Was looking very good. But good thinking from Sri Lanka to have a fielder at leg gully.

Karan: When is the Test ICC Championship starting? Hope Dhawan lovers understand this....

Bhargav: Seeing Dhawan's sublime touch... Now SL should wait until Dhawan gifts them his wicket -- You called it

Harsha Bhogle: Someone had to miss out but it is hard on KL Rahul who has 9 half centuries in 12 innings. Predictable that Shami returns for Umesh Yadav. So Kohli still hasn't played 2 successive tests with the same playing eleven

Commentary not available for this match