IND vs SL 2022: Hits and Flops as India register thumping victory over hapless visitors

India won the first of the two Tests in Mohali [P.C: BCCI]

Ravindra Jadeja with his all-round heroics grabbed all the attention as India defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs at Mohali to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

After electing to bat first, India posted a mammoth total of 574/8, courtesy of some outstanding performances, chiefly by Jadeja (175*) and Rishabh Pant (96).

India's spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja spun a web around the Lankan batters and bowled them out for 174 in the first innings. Sri Lanka, who lost 16 wickets on Day 3, were dismissed for 178 in their second innings after following-on.

They were one run short of Jadeja's individual score in their first innings, and just three ahead of it in the second, highlighting their predicament.

On that note, let's look at the hits and flops from the first Ind vs SL Test.

#4 Ind vs SL 1st Test: Flop - Lahiru Thirimanne (Sri Lanka)

Lahiru Thirimanne's dismissal during the second innings of the first Ind vs SL Test [P.C: BCCI]

Lahiru Thirimanne, who made his comeback to the Test side, endured a tough outing in the first Test against India. He opened the batting alongside his skipper Dimuth Karunaratne.

In the first innings, the duo checked off their target of avoiding losing any wickets in the first hour. While Karunaratne looked solid and even smashed five boundaries, Thirimanne struggled, especially against Ashwin.

Soon enough, the off-spinner trapped the left-hander in front of the stumps. Thirimanne played down the wrong line and got dismissed for 17 off 60 balls.

In the second innings, on Day 3, he failed to trouble the scorers and got out on a duck. And it was Ashwin once again! While the 32-year old got dismissed with a slider in the first innings, it was a classic off-break in the second.

A flighted ball on the off-stump, kissed the outside half of Thirimanne's bat and went low to Rohit Sharma at first slip.

#3 Ind vs SL 1st Test: Hit - Ravichandran Ashwin (India)

Ravichandran Ashwin during an appeal for a wicket in the first Ind vs SL Test [P.C:BCCI]

While Ravindra Jadeja stole the limelight with his heroics, Ravi Ashwin too continued his dominance in home conditions. The 35-year old starred with both bat and ball.

With the willow in hand, Ashwin registered his 12th half-century in Test cricket, scoring 61 off 82. He stitched a 130-run partnership with Jadeja and helped India stack up 574 runs in the first innings.

4⃣3⃣6⃣ Test wickets and counting 👏👏

A special milestone 🔥

Way to go, @ashwinravi99 🌟🔝

#TeamIndia #INDvSL @Paytm https://t.co/zUh884t3m3

In the two innings with the ball, the off-spinner picked up six wickets in the match - two in the first and four in the second. In the process, he went past Richard Hadlee, Rangana Herath, and Kapil Dev's Test wicket tally to become the 9th most successful bowler in Test cricket history, in regards to number of wickets.

The Chennai-born spinner troubled the Lankan batters throughout the Test and used all his guile and tricks. He was influential in wrapping up the game within three days.