Virat Kohli struck his sixth double-century in Test cricket as India continued to dominate in the third Test against Sri Lanka in Delhi but the second was marred by the visitors’ complaints about air pollution.
Kohli converted his 20 Test ton into a massive one to eventually fall for 243, his highest score in the longest format. Rohit Sharma hit 65 after overnight batsman Ajinkya Rahane fell early in the day.
India’s innings came to a halt before the tea break with the total on 536/7 as Sri Lanka’s players complained about fielding in the heavy polluted Delhi air, with some visiting players having to put on face masks to prove their point.
With the game delayed, Kohli decided to call time on the innings and was visibly frustrated with how the Sri Lanka team was handling the situation.
The hosts then got off to the perfect start with the ball as seamer Mohammed Shami had Dimuth Karunaratne caught by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha off the first ball of the innings.
Ishant Sharma trapped Dhananjaya de Silva (1) in front to leave the tourists in deep trouble at 14/2.
Makeshift opener Dilruwan Perera and Angelo Mathews stabilised things somewhat with a stand of 61 but the former fell when was lbw to left-arm spinner Ravi Jadeja for 42.
Mathews (57 not out) and his captain Dinesh Chandimal (25 not out) then showed their experience with an unbroken partnership of 56 and will hope to build on that on the third day.
