India vs Sri Lanka: 'I knew I had to be attacking and put the pressure back on the bowlers' - Shreyas Iyer

Rohit Sharma-led Team India have registered a convincing win over Sri Lanka in the second Test at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. India won the toss and opted to bat first. They posted 252 runs before getting all-out where Shreyas Iyer scored a stunning 92 in the first innings. Embuldeniya and Jayawickrama picked up 3 wickets each as well.

Sri Lanka were bundled out within 109 as Jasprit Bumrah claimed another five-wicket haul. However, India posted 303 runs in the second innings before declaring and eventually restricted Sri Lanka within 208 runs, winning by 238 runs as well.

READ MORE: All-round hosts clinch massive 238 runs victory to clean sweep series

After the win, Shreyas Iyer, who won the Player of the Match, said, “That wasn’t my normal approach, but I saw the batters struggling, so I knew I had to be attacking and put the pressure back on the bowlers. I was batting on 55 when the bowlers came in, and then I added around 40 more runs. I could have got out earlier as well, so didn’t worry about the hundred. I just wanted to bat as many balls as possible (in the second innings), knew that I had some support down the order with Shami and Bumrah. I have always dreamt about playing Test cricket for India, good feeling to come and contribute, want to keep this going.”

Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka captain said, “I would have been more happier if we had won, but it was a tough one, we batted under lights and it was tough. But I have worked hard on my batting. We have a good team, the batting didn’t capitalize on these conditions, the bowling was good, but we kept bowling loose deliveries every now and then, that’s what we need to work on going further. There have been several youngsters coming up and this was an experience for them. It has been special playing alongside Lakmal and I wish him well for the upcoming county season.”

I just try to play to my strength – Axar Patel

Axar Patel said, “I don’t think much when I am the third spinner in the team. I know Ashwin and Jadeja will complete the work. I just try to play to my strength. Like Ash Bhai said, he bowls first and we speak about what is the right pace to bowl on the surface. And that’s how I start my spell, start with my strengths and then within an over I know what to do. I would like to wish him (Ashwin) the best. We bonded at Delhi Capitals and I am going to miss him but anything can happen at the auctions.”

R Ashwin said, “I am not giving it a thought as to what I need to accomplish in a game. It has become more about how I build up into a series. The pink ball was a bit of a challenge this game as we are coming from a red-ball game and the ball behaves differently, so it took a couple of overs every time we got into a spell. It is about being there in the moment, getting into the spell and getting into rhythm. I enjoyed the spell today. It is a combination of a lot of things and it is an internal battle to try and understand the rhythm and pace I want to bowl.”

“I thought the Ahmedabad pitch was much quicker and had more bounce than this one. Whenever the batsmen was getting beaten it was by a big margin. I thought Dimuth batted beautifully, whenever he used his feet it was a touch difficult to try and pull the length back. It was a different challenge but nonetheless a new experience. When I was bowling over the wicket he (Mendis) was covering the angle nicely and that’s why I went round the wicket,” he concluded.