Sri Lanka vs. India: Best XI from Test Series
India clinched a 117-run win in the third and final Test in Sri Lanka, claiming their first series victory in the country since 1993. It was a series full of ups and downs, some unpredictable outcomes and some valiant efforts.
Picking a best XI wasn't always down to the numbers. A few players dug in deep when their side needed them most and even if those efforts didn't always result in a win for their side, having a player who can fight it out in your team is always worth it.
Do you agree with the best XI? Add your thoughts in the comments.
Cheteshwar Pujara
1 of 11
145 runs @ 145.00 in two innings
Cheteshwar Pujara only played one match, but what a match it was. His unbeaten 145 in the third and final Test was, arguably, the difference between the two teams. On a deck where India needed somebody to be patient and knuckle down, he did just that.
He scored a duck in the second innings, but he has definitely staked a claim for the upcoming series against South Africa.
Rohit Sharma
2 of 11
292 runs @ 33.66 in three Tests
Picking an opener to partner Pujara was not an easy task. India shuffled their order around while Sri Lanka's openers were woefully inconsistent. In the end, it came down to numbers and a bit of creative shuffling.
Rohit Sharma might not have opened in this series, but he has done so before. Sure, it's doubtful whether he has the temperament to do so consistently in Tests, but hey, this is all fictional, right?
Virat Kohli (captain)
3 of 11
233 runs @ 38.83 in three Tests
Although Virat Kohli did not score as prolifically as he might have liked at least he managed a smidgen of consistency in a series where there seemingly was none. A century in the first Test and 78 in the second helped set the tone for India's approach.
He is also captain of this best XI, despite the fact that he pushed India's declaration in the third Test out a little bit longer than some Indian fans would have liked, Kohli has clearly brought something special to this Indian side.
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Dinesh Chandimal
4 of 11
288 runs @ 57.60 in three Tests
Although the bulk of Dinesh Chandimal's runs came in the first Test, he played a big part in helping Sri Lanka get over the line in that game. All of Sri Lanka's batsmen lacked consistency in this series, but Chandimal showed, if there still was any doubt, that he has a long Test career ahead for his country.
Wriddhiman Saha (wk)
5 of 11
131 runs @ 43.66 in two Tests
It's a great pity Wriddhiman Saha got injured before the series was over. Although he rarely got to show off his glove work, he offered plenty of gritty lower order batting power. For this team, he'll remain wicketkeeper to take some of the pressure off Dinesh Chandimal.
Angelo Mathews
6 of 11
Four wickets @ 18.75 and 339 runs at 56.50 in three matches
While it certainly wasn’t Angelo Mathews’ finest effort in this series, his lower order runs were vital for his team, time and time again.
Mathews managed to keep his cool when all around him, his team-mates were losing theirs. They have him to thank for helping them at least save some face in this series.
Ravi Ashwin
7 of 11
21 wickets @ 18.90 and 94 runs in three matches
Ravi Aswhin was one of the best bowlers of the series and while he can thank Sri Lanka's mindless batsmen for much of that, he exploited the conditions when they suited him. Add to that his valiant 58 in the third Test and you have an all-round performance that earns him his spot in the side.
Amit Mishra
8 of 11
15 wickets @ 15.00 in three Tests
This XI is slightly bulky on the spinner side, but they did most of the work. Amit Mishra's efforts are made only slightly more impressive by the fact that these were his first Tests since 2011.
Not only did Mishra take wickets, he also piled on the pressure with an economy rate of 2.84, the lowest of all the Indian bowlers. If you're a South African fan reading this, be prepared for some tough times ahead when South Africa visit India.
Rangana Herath
9 of 11
15 wickets @ 31.00 in three Tests
Rangana Herath almost single-handedly spun Sri Lanka to victory in the first Test where it looked like they had no hope. With figures of seven for 48 in the second innings, which saw India collapse to a measly 112 and secure a win for the hosts, it would be foolish to ignore Herath's heroics for the series best XI.
Dhammika Prasad
10 of 11
15 wickets @ 23.60 in three Tests
Like Ishant Sharma, Dhammika Prasad was constantly aggressive and probing. In fact, it was precisely because he was so aggressive that Sharma had an outburst in the final Test. Prasad is getting on a bit, he's 32, and he has played just over 20 Tests for Sri Lanka, having made his first-class debut in the 2001-02 season.
It's a great pity that Prasad's career was marred with injury for so long, he is a superb competitor and Sri Lanka will be lucky to have him in the twilight of his career.
Ishant Sharma
11 of 11
13 wickets @ 23.23 in three Tests
Ishant Sharma had a very good series, with best figures of 8-86. While the surfaces in Sri Lanka helped bowlers, Sharma's aggression and persistence was impressive. Sure, he very nearly overstepped the line when he got into a little argy-bargy in the third Test, but what’s a little head bashing between friends?
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