India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test: Day 3 in Nagpur

Skipper Virat Kohli battered a lackadaisical Sri Lanka attack into submission with his fifth double hundred as India piled up a gigantic 6106 before declaring their first innings on the third day, to literally outbat the Islanders in the second Test. At stumps, Sri Lanka were down in the dumps at 21 for one with another 384 runs required to avoid innings defeat. The Indian captain scored a majestic 213 - his 19th hundred, en route which he broke a plethora of records in company of Rohit Sharma (102 not out), who got a Test ton after four long years.

Kohli's brute power combined with Rohit's lazy elegance made it a heady cocktail of entertainment for the Sunday crowd, who were thrilled to bits whenever the Indian skipper reached a milestone. The Sri Lankan bowlers never looked good enough to dismiss Kohli and it required a mistimed shot to see the back of the Indian captain, who got a standing ovation from the 12,000 plus present at the VCA Stadium. The 267-ball knock comprised 17 boundaries and two sixes - both of Sri Lanka's worst bowler Dilruwan Perera 3202 in 45 overs. It was a day when Kohli had the statisticians working overtime doing the number crunching as records fell like ninepins. It was his 12th hundred as Indian captain and he surpassed Sunil Gavaskar's previous record of 11 centuries.

Kohli now has five double hundreds against five different countries - West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He is only 25 runs short of completing 5000 runs in Test cricket. After enjoying a 183-run stand with Cheteshwar Pujara 143, Kohli had another fruitful stand of 173 for the fifth wicket with Rohit Sharma. Rohit's third Test hundred came off 160 balls with eight boundaries and a six. However one can't take away the fact that India was more than 200 runs ahead by that time. But Rohit's innings will certainly give Kohli some relief with Ajinkya Rahane going through a wretched stretch of form.

Whenever Suranga Lakmal 0/111 in 29 overs strayed on Kohli's pads, the skipper repeatedly whipped the deliveries through mid-wicket region. It was a whip to deep midwicket for a single that brought Kohli's 19th hundred in Test cricket. There wasn't any exaggerated celebration this time unlike Kolkata, where he had bailed the team out of trouble. Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage 197 in 35 overs bowled with deep square leg, deep fine leg and deep extra cover making it clear that they did not want to concede boundaries. The easy singles were there for the taking. Sri Lankan bowlers were unable to find an answer to their woes on a benign pitch that had forced one of their bowlers to "alter the condition of the ball". After India started the day at 312 for 2, the Sri Lankan bowlers lacked stomach for fight which was evident from the field placing of Dinesh Chandimal. Rangana Herath 181 in 39 overs was restrictive but didn't bowl any wicket-taking delivery.

In the first session itself, it looked like the visitors are going through the motion only waiting for Kohli to declare the innings. As a contest, it became lopsided from the moment Sri Lanka were all out for 205. By the time, India declared their first innings, the shoulders had drooped and energy sapped. No wonder Sadeera Samarwickrama 0 had no clue that Ishant Sharma's back of the length delivery would be jag back after landing on the seam to clip his off-bail. It proved that Sri Lanka were already out of the match. The formalities in all likelihood would be completed well within four days - as it has been the case with most of the Sri Lanka Tests this season.The visitor's trail by 384 runs.