Team India completely dominated Day 1 of the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka at PCA Stadium in Mohali. The hosts posted a total of 357/6, thanks to outstanding batting displays, particularly from Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari. Notably, this is the 14th time India have scored 350+ runs on the opening day of a Test, and six out of those instances have come against Sri Lanka.

Pant top-scored for India by smashing 96 from 97 balls and missed his century by just four runs. Hanuma, on the other hand, scored 58 off 128 deliveries. This was the fifth time when Pant got dismissed in the 90s.

Pant’s nervous 90s:

92 vs West Indies in Rajkot 2018
92 vs West Indies in Hyderabad 2018
97 vs Australia in Sydney 2021
91 vs England in Chennai 2021
96 vs Sri Lanka in Mohali 2022*

Ravindra Jadeja (45 no) and Ravichandran Ashwin (10 no) stayed unbeaten to take India to 357/6 at stumps on Day 1. Virat Kohli (45), Mayank Agarwal (33), Rohit Sharma (29) and Shreyas Iyer (27) also made some valuable contributions.

“Felt good going out in the middle. I was batting well, and I had a good preparation. Great opportunity batting at number three for India. I am happy to bat wherever the team wants me to, but my most preferred position is number three, I have done it in first-class cricket. I thought initially the ball was coming onto the bat well. But once the ball went old, it was difficult to time the ball well. Rishabh is a different kind of batsman, and it was a special innings. We all know how he bats, and it was a special innings today. He helped us get to 350+ on the first day, which will be helpful going forward,” said Vihari after the end of the day’s play.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

That’s Stumps on Day 1 of the 1st Test.#TeamIndia 357/6 after 85 overs. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja together added 104 runs on the board.

Pant 96
Jadeja 45*

Scorecard – https://t.co/c2vTOXAx1p #INDvSL @Paytm pic.twitter.com/pXSRnSXBsh

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 4, 2022

Loot liya lanka ko… 👖 🔥🔥🔥 #INDvSL

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 4, 2022

Whenever he gets an opportunity, he always shines BRILLIANT 50* by HANUMA VIHARI 🇮🇳👌 @Hanumavihari #INDvSL #CricketTwitter

— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) March 4, 2022

Most scores (Five) in the 90s after first 49 Test innings..
– Clem Hill
– Gordon Greenidge
– Alvin Kallicharran
– Rishabh Pant#IndvSL #IndvsSL

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 4, 2022

PanTreat 🔥at Mohali!#INDvSL #WhistlePodu 🦁💛
📸 : @BCCI pic.twitter.com/URLS78AOMe

— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) March 4, 2022

Hanuma Vihari – A gem of a human being, team man, servant of the game away from glitz and glamor.. Deserved this chance – Not a replacement or an extra batter today, but an elected member of the top order core. Delighted that he’s making it count. #INDvsSL

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) March 4, 2022

#Pant may have missed a hundred but I was very impressed with his remarkably responsible approach. And his out standing self belief while hitting sixes is incredible. #Cricket #CricketTwitter

— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) March 4, 2022

At stumps on Day 1, India post 357/6.

Match Centre 📝: https://t.co/XH5rUHGCvr#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/dK15slZwyO

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 4, 2022

#RishabhPant breathes life into our game.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 4, 2022

Cricket’s obsession with milestones doesn’t allow us to properly acknowledge and appreciate the achievements. This is Rishabh’s 5th score in 90s…all of them stellar knocks enriching Test cricket. #IndvSL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 4, 2022

An innings with a perfect mix of entertainment and bliss 💙

Absolute cracker, Rishabh! 💥#OneFamily #INDvSL @RishabhPant17 @ICC pic.twitter.com/1DekCdHITr

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 4, 2022

But it was entertaining and thrilling to watch while it lasted! What an innings by Rishabh Pant. So audacious! #INDvSL

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 4, 2022

RP17 playing a Test on March 4 last year 👉🏼 💯🤯
RP17 the last time he played a Test 👉🏼 💯🔥
RP17 today 👉🏼 Ever so close… 💔

This 9️⃣6️⃣ was as good as a ton for all of us, @RishabhPant17 💙#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/1gHJhHThw2

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 4, 2022

Last two Tests where each of Indian top six scored 20+ runs in an innings:
v SL at Mohali, 2022
v AUS at Adelaide, 2014

These are Tests where Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made their captaincy debut.#INDvSL

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 4, 2022

What an outstanding innings this has been from Rishabh Pant. Unlucky not to get to his century.

Well played, Rishabh! 👏🏻👏🏻#PlayBold #TeamIndia #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/9jyTOx8tSA

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 4, 2022

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