2-0 down in the series, all Sri Lanka needed was to show a fight and salvage some pride. Team India, on the other hand, looked to stay unbeaten and complete a clean sweep over the hosts. What followed was a repeat of the first two Tests – the Indian team dominating throughout and Sri Lanka losing the game without putting up a threatening fight. India walked away by winning the series 3-0, after yet another victory by an innings and 171 runs. The third and final Test ended inside three days. It was a commanding effort by India, as they ticked all three boxes of the game – batting, bowling and fielding, A clinical performance left the Lankans were left playing catch-up for the entire duration of the match.

For the third time in a row in the series, Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first. There was a forced change for India with Kuldeep Yadav replacing Ravindra Jadeja, the latter of who was handed a one-match ban. The hosts made three changes though – Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep and Dhananjaya de Silva missed out, as Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Lakshan Sandakan came into the playing XI.

The Indian openers got off to a superb start once again against the Lankan bowlers. There was a chance for the hosts, but they put it down when KL Rahul was dropped on 28 at mid-on by Kumara. The opener went on to score yet another half-century and went on to become a joint holder of the record for scoring most consecutive fifties in Tests. It was the seventh consecutive fifty for the opener and he looked all set for a ton on this occasion, but missed out. Dhawan and Rahul added the highest opening partnership in Tests in 2017. The 188-run stand was also the record opening partnership for India in Sri Lanka in Tests. It laid the perfect foundation for the team and Shikhar Dhawan went on to score his sixth Test century. His knock included 17 fours and he was batting at an extremely good strike rate.

Pushpakumara got the second breakthrough for Sri Lanka, when Dhawan swept the ball, straight to Chandimal at square leg. Pujara departed soon after, giving his wicket to the ‘chinaman’, Sandakan. Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli then had to build on the platform laid early on, but the former couldn’t make a solid impact in his innings. The skipper, Virat Kohli fell prey to Sandakan as well when he got a thick outside edge that had the ball lobbing towards Karunaratne, who held on to the sharp chance. Despite the late fall of wickets, India managed to score 300-plus on Day 1 itself and held the advantage at Stumps.

Sri Lanka had to come back hard on day 2, and would have hoped to bowl India out in the first session. However, Hardik Pandya had other things on his mind. A couple of early wickets meant the hosts were fighting, but Pandya, along with the lower order brought something special out of his armoury. It was a calculative batting effort from him till he reached his half-century, his second in as many innings in Tests. Once India started losing wickets, he knew he had to do most of the scoring and inflicted a lot of damage over the helpless Lankan bowlers.

Hardik decided to cut loose and went all guns blazing and smashed 26 runs off an over by Sandakan – a record for the most runs scored by an Indian batsman in an over. It was raining fours and sixes from his blade, and Sri Lanka were unable to tie him down. Pandya was enjoying his batting and took India to another strong total. He didn’t stop at all and went on to score his maiden Test and international ton. It was a record-breaking knock from Pandya, as it was the fastest century by a number 8 batsman in the history of Test cricket. The knock was a special one as it was his maiden century across all major formats. From being a hard-hitter of the ball, Pandya took it to the longer format and sent a strong message that he is here to stay in Test cricket.

Hardik Pandya got out after lunch and Team India were bowled out for 487. Lakshan Sandakan finished with his maiden 5-wicket haul and the Lankans had something to rejoice from that innings. The Sri Lankan openers had to build a strong foundation, but they failed in doing so yet again. Upul Tharanga was given out, caught behind, but the opener opted for a review. Replays confirmed there was an edge and it turned out to be a waste of a review. Mohammed Shami was at his best, once again with the new ball and Sri Lanka were unable to handle the early pressure. It resulted in a comedy of errors when there was a mix-up between Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal. The Lankan skipper played the ball towards mid-on, where Ashwin dived to his right to stop the ball, collected and threw it towards the non-striker’s end. Chandimal had sent Mendis back as he was aware of that stop. Ashwin failed to score a direct hit missed out on having Mendis run out. Kuldeep Yadav was backing up at short cover, and quickly threw it back to the non-striker’s end and scored a brilliant direct hit, where Mendis still hadn’t made it back into the crease. It was a terrific piece of fielding by the Indian spin duo.

Hardik Pandya made his day even more special when he got the big wicket of Angelo Mathews, who was trapped leg before and was dismissed for a duck. His last duck came 83 innings ago! Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic, and was taking wickets at regular intervals. Forming a partnership was the need of the hour and Sri Lanka were struggling to stitch even one. Chandimal was waging a lone battle and ended up being dismissed before his fifty. Kuldeep finished with four wickets, whereas Shami and Ashwin bagged a brace each. The hosts were bundled out for just 135; their lowest first innings total against India at home.

Virat Kohli enforced the follow-on yet again and became the first Indian skipper to enforce it in back-to-back Tests, away from home. All Sri Lanka had to do was survive till Stumps before losing any wicket but the Indian bowlers kept the pressure on and Tharanga succumbed to it. The opener dragged one back onto his stumps, giving his wicket to Umesh Yadav late on Day 2.

Dimuth Karunaratne, who had fruitful returns in the second innings of the previous Test, couldn’t make a notable contribution as well. Ashwin struck early on day 3 and showed it won’t be easy for the hosts once again. The nightwatchman, Pushpakumara edged one behind, giving Shami his first wicket of the innings and soon, Kusal Mendis got out to the swing bowler. There was no respite whatsoever, as the Lankans were in early trouble yet again and needed an inspirational comeback to save this Test. The Indian bowlers kept a tight lid over the scoring and the Sri Lankan batsmen faltered under that pressure to lose four wickets by Lunch.

Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal shared a 65-run stand between them post-lunch, but Kuldeep Yadav gave India the breakthrough and half the side was back in the hut for the hosts. Very soon, the former skipper Mathews followed his current captain and got out to Ravichandran Ashwin. The tailenders did their best but it was eventually too much for them and the Indian bowlers wrapped up the innings in the second session itself.

India were absolutely dominant and unstoppable in the Test series, and left no loopholes in their game. The action now moves to the limited overs format, with the 5-match ODI series that begins on 20th August, where Rohit Sharma has been named as Virat Kohli’s deputy. The Lankans would look to start fresh in the one-day games after their disastrous outing in whites. Team India would be looking to carry on with their momentum and emerge victorious in the ODIs as well.