On 1st September 2015, India completed their first Test series win in Sri Lanka since 1993. Ravichandran Ashwin was the ‘Man of the Series’ for his 21 wickets in three Tests at 18.09 and also for a key fifty in the last Test but this Test match belonged to Cheteshwar Pujara.
Pujara did not play the first two Test matches as relatively unsuccessful Australia tour resulted in his drop. He was included in the team as an opener as Indian middle order was occupied by Ajinkya Rahane, captain Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Pujara was not disturbed by this new role and on a difficult, bouncy pitch played a gem of an innings. India lost their first two wickets within first four overs of day one when only 15 overs were possible. Even on day two despite Pujara holding one end there was not much support till the 9th batsman Amit Mishra walked in. Mishra came to bat at 180/7 and provided good support to Pujara who reached his first Test century after 20 months. Eventually Pujara finished with unbeaten 145 and carried his bat. Mishra contributed with 59 and India reached 312. Sri Lankan fast bowler Dhammika Prasad maintained his good form and finished with four wickets.
Sri Lanka also had a terrible start and soon were 47/6 thanks to Ishant Sharma and Stuart Binny. There was a fighting half century from Kushal Perera and a gritty 49 from Rangana Herath took them past 200 as Ishant finished with five wickets.
India again had a bad start and lost first three wickets for just seven runs including Pujara for a duck. But this time the middle order chipped in. Rohit (50), Binny (49), Naman Ojha (35), Mishra (39) and Ashwin (58) ensured that India reached 274 and gave Sri Lanka a very tricky target of 386 runs on a not very good track.
Sri Lanka again had a poor start and at 107/5 looked like completely out of the Test match. Angelo Mathews and Kushal Perera formed a recovery and added 135 runs for the 6th wicket. Mathews reached a hundred and Kushal scored 70. However, the Indians kept probing and Sri Lanka lost both the batsmen within seven runs effectively ending the match. India finally won the Test match by 117 runs as Ashwin took four wickets and Ishant took three wickets in the second innings.
The win gave them a 2-1 series win, their first away series win since 2011.
