Team India bowling coach Bharat Arun refuses to buy into Sri Lanka's mask-wearing act.
India captain Virat Kohli smashed a career-best 243, his second successive double hundred, before a blanket of smog prompted him to declare on 536 for seven in the third and final test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
The home side's attack then turned the screw even further on the visitors when they reduced Sri Lanka to 131-3 on the second day. Angelo Mathews capitalised on an early reprieve to score 57 not out and skipper Dinesh Chandimal was on 25 with Sri Lanka still 405 behind on a hazy day in the Indian capital.
Several Sri Lankan players returned from the lunch break sporting facemasks as the seasonal haze affecting the region thickened over the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. The smog eventually held up play twice and 22 minutes was lost in total as Lahiru Gamage and his pace colleague Suranga Lakmal both left the field during the second session as they found it difficult to breathe.
Umpires Nigel Llong and Joel Wilson were discussing the air quality with the tourists when Kohli signalled his team in. "We were looking at a total of 550, it was pretty close to that. So we thought we might as well declare," India bowling coach Bharat Arun said, dismissing suggestions it was a forced declaration.
"Virat batted close to two days, he didn't need a mask," added Arun, referring to the visitors walking out wearing masks after lunch. "We've focused on what we need to do and achieve for the team. Conditions are same for both teams. There is pollution everywhere in India. BCCI has fixed the schedule. Our job is to go and play so we are focusing on that."
Until then, the stadium's near-capacity crowd was treated to some elegant shot-making by Kohli, who hit 25 crisp boundaries in his master class spread over seven-and-half hours. The 29-year-old became the first international captain to score six double centuries, all of them coming in the last 17 months.
His latest looked a mere formality after India, chasing a record-equalling ninth consecutive test series victory, resumed on 371-4. "His absolute focus, attention to details, in terms of fitness, game preparation, his skills, he's spot on," Arun said. "He's an example of what you need to be as a cricketer. That shows in his success rate."
Kohli's partner in a 135-run fifth-wicket stand, Rohit Sharma, smacked left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan (4-167) over long-off for a six but all eyes were on Kohli as he approached the 200-mark. The skipper took two runs off Lakmal to bring up his double century, celebrating it by leaping into the air before removing his helmet to acknowledge the applause.
Rohit hit Perera over the spinner's head for a six to bring up his fifth consecutive test fifty. When India came out to bowl, Mohammad Shami dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne for a golden duck and Ishant Sharma trapped Dhananjaya de Silva lbw for one to immediately dent the tourists' reply.
Dilruwan Perera, spilled in the slip when on 16, made 42 before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him leg-before. Sri Lanka missed opener Sadeera Samarawickrama, who suffered a mild concussion on Saturday and was advised by doctors to skip play on Sunday.
"I think it's an abnormal case, I leave it with the ICC (International Cricket Council)," Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas said of the conditions. "I think the match referee and the umpires will file a report to the ICC. Our job is to play cricket."
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