Despite prising out six wickets in the 80.4 overs of play possible at the SSC ground on Tuesday, India will not necessarily look back at the middle day of the second Test with total satisfaction.

Their plans of forcing Sri Lanka on to the back foot thwarted by a combination of obdurate batting and a pitch that slowed down considerably, Shubman Gill’s men have a big task ahead of them in their bid to force an outright victory over the next two days.