India v Sri Lanka, Iconic Test Matches

The Indo-Lankan rivalry is traditional and old school, the Indians have met their Lankan counterparts on 12 occasions out of which 6 times the result went in their favor.In the most recent meeting of the two sides in 2009, India reached its ‘numero uno’ status in test cricket after thrashing the Lankans in Mumbai. The Upcoming series in Sri Lanka would be the first meeting between the neighboring nations in over 6 years. Both the sides have been revamped and are being led by young and ambitious captains.
Over the years there have been some hard fought tests between these two sided that created history, here’s a look at the top 5 Iconic India vs Sri Lanka Tests.

5. Sri Lanka Vs India(P Sara Oval 1985)

This test match played at the Sara Oval in Colombo was Sri Lanka’s Icebreaker, their first ever test win. The Island nation, led by Duleep Mendis, was still finding its feet in test cricket, when a strong Indian side toured them in the Autumn of 1985. The first test had ended in a draw and the stakes were high for this game. The Lankans batted first and did so beautifully on a difficult pitch by putting up 381 runs on the board, thanks largely to Amal Silva’s solid 111. The Indians never really got going, as the Lankans bowled really well, and managed to make just 244. Srikanth, Gavaskar and Amarnath got fifties. Rumesh Ratnayake picked 4 wickets.The Lankans once again showed their class in their second innings as they piled on the runs to finish at 206/3 before setting the Indians a target of 348 runs. Destiny was written all over this game as Sri Lanka dismissed the Indians for a paltry 198 to register their first test win by 149 runs making history. The following day went on to be declared a national holiday in Sri Lanka.

4. India Vs Sri Lanka (1986-87 Nagpur)

This test match is etched in the Indian cricketing annals forever. After the shock series defeat last time around, the Indians came roaring back at home. The first test ended in a draw but the intent was clear from the home side. The Lankan side led by Duleep Mendis again had scored a lot of runs prior to this series, but the real test came against the quality bowling of India, the Islanders couldn’t withstand it in their first innings as they were bowled out for 204, with only Ranatunga getting past 50. Hyderabadi off spinner Shivlal Yadav picked a five-fer. The Indians replied with all guns blazing , as the the duo of Vengsarkar and Amarnath crafted scintillating hundreds. Raman Lamba and Sunil Gavaskar too chipped in with useful fifties. The indians had put up 451/6, before declaring. In reply Sri Lanka had no clue to to left arm spin of Maninder Singh as he demolished the Lankans(141//10) picking 7/51, handing India a huge Innings and 141 runs victory, their first test win against the Lankans.

3. Sri Lanka Vs India. (2001 P sara oval)

The Test match is significant as its a perfect example of grabbing the right opportunity. The Indians were without their best player in Sachin Tendulkar, and the Lankans made most of that fact, along with a certain Muttiah Muralitharan. The Indians had a very young side led by a young Sourav Ganguly.The Indians batted first but had no answers to Muralitharan’s magic as they were bowled out of 234. Sri Lankans then came out and made merry. Atapattu, Tilakaratne, Jayawardene and Samaraweera all smashed tons as they piled on 610 runs. In reply the Indians played better but the left arm guile of Vaas and Muralitharan proved too much for the young side as they collapsed for 299, to hand Sri Lanka a big Innings and 76 runs win.

2. India Vs Sri Lanka, (2009, Kanpur)

This Test match is historic for the fact that, it set up a series which launched India achieve its No1 Test ranking status.This Test match played at the Green Park at Kanpur was almost fully one sided. The Indians made easy work of a toothless Lankan attack fraying them all around as the openers Gambhir and Sehwag slammed centuries. The show by the Delhi duo, was followed by a special masterclass by Rahul Dravid as he helped himself 144 runs. The Indians had posted 642 runs on the board. In reply the Lankans were sent packing by the Sreesanth, who bowled superbly on a placid wicket to take a five for. They scored only 229 and followed on.The Lankans failed to offer any resistance against the Indian attack which was relentless and ruthless as they folded up again for 269 runs handing India a victory by Innings and 144 runs, their 100 in Test Cricket.
1. Sri Lanka Vs India. (2010, P Sara Oval)

The best India- Sri Lanka test match is arguably the one at the Sra Oval in Colombo in a hard fought series in 2010. Indians were on a back foot from the onset of the series losing the opening test match by an innings. The pressure was on the No 1 test side to deliver and they did so in spectacular fashion.The Lankans batted first and piled on 425 runs which included a dodgy century from Thilan Samaraweera. India replied well, but batted well only in patches but took a slender lead of 11 runs, they got 236 largely due to Virender Sehwag’s stroke filled ton. The Indians also stung with their tail as Mithun and Mishra scored 40s each. Sri Lanka returned to bat but it was the turn of the Indian spinner to rule the roost as Ojha, Mishra and Sehwag picked 3 wickets each, to restrict the Lankans to only 267, they had earned themselves a target of 257 runs. But the fifth day pitch of the Sara Oval pitch did have its say as the Indians were reeling 64/4, when the duo of tendulkar and Laxman came together, the legends proved their class thoroughly the Indians romped home by five wickets, VVS had scored an unbeaten 103.