Explainer: Now only 2 days are left in the Galle Test, how will Team India win?

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IND vs SL: The third day of the Galle Test was completely in their name for the Indian team, where on the basis of excellent bowling, the Indian bowlers took a huge and psychological lead of 178 runs by bowling out Sri Lanka's first innings for just 284 runs. The third day's play was ended early due to rain. Now on the fourth day of the game, Team India will start its second innings. After this strong position, now the Galle Test is almost in the hands of Team India. Now, what strategy will Team India adopt on the fourth day, what target will it set for Sri Lanka and how will the winning equation be prepared, let us try to understand in this article.

Psychological significance of lead of 178 runs

In Test cricket, a lead of more than 150 runs in the first innings on the pitches of the subcontinent proves to be very decisive in the match. In response to Team India's 462 runs, the Sri Lankan team could not bear the pressure and were limited to only 284 runs. This lead by India has put Sri Lanka in complete defensive mode, because they know that batting on this pitch in the fourth innings will be no less than hell.

What will be India's batting plan on the fourth day of Galle Test?

When the Indian team's innings starts on the fourth day of the Galle Test and the openers come to the crease, their intention will be to put the match completely out of Sri Lanka's reach. Team India's top order batsmen, sensing the behavior of the pitch, will try to score runs quickly so as not to give Sri Lanka any chance to make a comeback in the game. The first target of the Indian team will be to take its lead of 178 runs beyond 450 as soon as possible and then declare the innings and set a big target for Sri Lanka.

When will the second innings be declared?

The biggest question before Indian captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir will be when to invite Sri Lanka to bat in the fourth innings. It is almost impossible to achieve the target of 400+ on the deteriorating pitch of Galle on the fourth and fifth day. India can declare the innings after scoring 220 to 250 runs in the second innings and set a target of 400+ for Sri Lanka. India can call Sri Lanka to bat in the last session of the fourth day or the beginning of the fifth day, so that the Indian spinners can get at least 100-120 overs to take wickets.

Danger of gall pitch on fourth and fifth day

Cracks fully open on the pitch of Galle International Stadium from the fourth day onwards, due to which spin bowlers start getting dangerous turn and uneven bounce. In such a situation, Sri Lankan spinners Prabhat Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha can also create problems for the Indian batsmen. In the first innings of Team India, both these Sri Lankan spinners bowled dangerously on the second day. Prabhat Jayasuriya created a stir by taking 4 wickets, while Keshara Nuwantha took 3 wickets. In such a situation, they will try to cause trouble in the second innings also, hence Indian batsmen will have to bat carefully.

When Team India comes out to bowl, Ravindra Jadeja and young spinner Manav Suthar will take full advantage of this pitch and can break the back of Sri Lanka's batting, as they did in the first innings. Team India will have to dismiss Niroshan Dickwella and Sonal Dinusha quickly. When Sri Lanka's innings faltered in the first innings, Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella took over the innings and saved Sri Lanka from follow-on by making a partnership of 146 runs. Dickwella played an inning of 80 runs, while Sonal Dinusha scored a brilliant century. In such a situation, both these batsmen will have to be out quickly. Let us tell you that Manav Suthar created a stir by taking 4 wickets in the first innings of Sri Lanka, while Ravindra Jadeja took 3 wickets. In such a situation, Indian spin bowlers can also do wonders on the fourth and fifth days.

Perfect roadmap to victory for Team India

The path to victory for India is now very straight and clear, where in the first and second sessions of the fourth day, Team India will have to bat aggressively without losing too many wickets and take their total lead beyond 400 runs. After this, if the target becomes sufficient in the third session of the fourth day, then Sri Lanka will have to take 1 or 2 early wickets before declaring the innings and ending the day's play. On the fifth day, Sri Lanka will have to take the remaining wickets by completely weaving the spin web. Let us tell you that from the point of view of the World Test Championship, both the Test matches of this series are very important for Team India.

If India wants to remain in the race for WTC, then they will have to score points by winning both the matches at any cost. If Team India loses even one match, then it will almost be out of the race for the final of the World Test Championship. In such a situation, the Indian team captained by Shubman Gill would like to win this match at any cost. Team India also seems to be in a strong position in this match.

Also read: 24-year-old Manav Suthar created history, became only the second Indian to achieve this feat in Test cricket at Galle.

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