Stats: Highest Team Totals In India vs Sri Lanka Tests
IND vs SL: Team India have been in red hot form in the limited-overs format of late as they first whitewashed West Indies in ODI and T20I series and then went on to clean sweep Sri Lanka 3-0 in the recently concluded T20I series.
Rohit Sharma will be leading the Indian test side for the first as a full-time captain, and the fans would be hoping for similar success in this format as the 'Hitman' got in the limited-overs with his able guidance and leadership.
As we near the 2-match test series to be played by neighbours India and Sri Lanka, let's have a look at the top 5 highest team totals between these two teams in test cricket.
Highest Team Totals in India vs Sri Lanka tests
#5. India (676/7, Kanpur 1986)
In the 1st test at Kanpur in 1986, Sri Lanka posted a total of 420 runs in the first innings after opting to bat first. In reply, Team India were powered to 676/7 after opener Sunil Gavaskar (176), Mohammad Azharuddin (199) and captain Kapil Dev (163) thrashed Sri Lankan bowlers at their will.
However, the test match returned no result as it finished with India still batting in its first inning.
#4. India (707, Colombo (SSC) 2010)
Sri Lanka batters came into the second Test at Colombo in 2010 with one intention - to absolutely decimate the Indian bowling, and so they did. After opting to bat first, Sri Lanka declared their first inning on 642/6 with a double century from captain Kumar Sangakkara (219) and centuries from Tharanga Pranavitana (100) and Mahela Jayawardene (174).
In reply, however, Indian batters played a thrashing game of their own. Openers Murali Vijay (58) and Virender Sehwag (99) provided a good start, and Sachin Tendulkar at #4 utilised it with a double century (203). Furthermore, Suresh Raina smacked 120 runs at #6 and MS Dhoni (76) opened his hand at #7. Even Abhimanyu Mithun contributed with a 41 which led India to a total of 707, a first-inning lead of 31 runs. In reply, Sri Lanka declared on 129/3 but there was no time left for team India to bat and the match ended in a draw.
#3. India (726/9d, Mumbai 2009)
After opting to bat first in the 3rd test at Mumbai in 2009, Sri Lanka were bowled out for a total of 393 runs after a ton from Tillakaratne Dilshan (109) and half-centuries from Tharanga Paranavitana (53) & Angelo Mathews (99).
In reply, Indian opener Virender Sehwag came out all guns blazing with his 293 runs off just 254 balls, smacking 40 fours and 7 sixes. As many as 4 Indian batters contributed with a half-century - Murali Vijay (87), Rahul Dravid (74), Sachin Tendulkar (53) & VVS Laxman (62), at #1, #3, #4 & #5 respectively. The Indian captain, MS Dhoni smacked 100* runs of 154 as India declared their first innings on 726/7 with a lead of 333 runs. Sri Lanka were bowled out for a total of 309 runs as Zaheer Khan picked up 5 wickets and India won the match by an innings and 24 runs.
#2. Sri Lanka (760/7d, Ahmedabad 2009)
In the first test at Ahmedabad, India posted a total of 426 on the board after getting off to a bad start. Rahul Dravid (177), Yuvraj Singh (68) and MS Dhoni (110) were the major contributors. Sri Lanka in reply were powered by a century from opener Tilakaratne Dilshan (112) and then a blistering 275 from Mahela Jayawardene. Thilan Samaraweera (70) also contributed while Prasanna Jayawardene (154*) helped the total to 760/7, and Sri Lanka declared with a lead of 334 runs.
India managed to score 412/4 in their second innings with a ton from Gautam Gambhir (114) & Sachin Tendulkar (100*) and fifties from Virender Sehwag (51) & VVS Laxman (51*) before the match ended in a draw.
#1. Sri Lanka (952/6d, Colmobo (RPS) 1997)
The 1st test at Colombo (RPS) 1997 proved to be a graveyard for the bowlers. After opting to bat first, Team India scored a total of 537/8 with some major batting performances. Navjot Sidhu (111), captain Sachin Tendulkar (143) and Mohammad Azharuddin (126) contributed with majestic tons while Rahul Dravid (69) also managed a half-century.
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In reply, Sri Lankans went a step or possibly two ahead. Opener Sanath Jayasuriya smacked 340 runs, Roshan Mahanam thrashed 225 runs, and Aravinda de Silva joined with 126 runs. While captain Arjun Ranatunga (86) and Mahela Jayawardene (66) contributed with the fifties to take the Lankan total to 952/6 before the match ended in a draw.