India beat Sri Lanka by 117 runs in the final Test to win the three-match series 2-1 at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Tuesday.This is also India's first overseas Test series win since West Indies 2011.
Set a 386-run victory target, Sri Lanka resumed on 67-3 on the final day and were bowled out for 268 after tea with skipper Angelo Mathews top scoring for them with a defiant 110.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers claiming 4-69, while paceman Ishant Sharma finished with 3-32.
With this win, India have gained one place and jumped to fifth place, ahead of New Zealand, in the latest ICC rankings for Tests.
Virat Kohli after the historic victory: 'Being 0-1 down is never easy, we've created a bit of history, credit to the whole squad, even to the guys who have not played - Bhuvneshwar, Aaron and even Harbhajan, who is such a senior member of the squad, but still kept helping the boys.
It's a collective effort and we can be really proud of the way we've comeback in this series.
Feels nice to have created a bit of history, especially with a young team. I think it's a magnificent milestone for all of us and gain some confidence from here on. '
'Injuries do frustrate the team, but the attitude of the squad and the management was brilliant. It's been a combined effort.
If you take Pujara, he looked at this as an opportunity than a difficulty. That's the change of mindset we are going through right now.
Feels amazing to win the series 2-1 after being 0-1 down in Galle. Yes, there are areas that we can improve on, but we count the numbers of sessions in one hand where we have not done well.
We need to pat ourselves on the back for the way we played in the series. It's never easy to win away from home.
The kind of attitude and the character that the team has shown, I can be really proud of the boys.'
R Ashwin (Man-of-the-Series): 'I'd like to thank the boys, the catching has been brilliant and that is one of the reasons I have taken 21 wickets here.
The wickets were a little slow, so I realised that I had to put in a lot more body and that is a big lesson that I have learnt.
I had a few tennis elbow issues, so I wasn't concerned about the demotion. The coaches have been really patient with me (talking about his batting) and I am happy that I responded well with a fifty.'
The wickets were a little slow, so I realised that I had to put in a lot more body and that is a big lesson that I have learnt.
I had a few tennis elbow issues, so I wasn't concerned about the demotion. The coaches have been really patient with me (talking about his batting) and I am happy that I responded well with a fifty.'
Ishant Sharma (Captain Kohli's go-to man this series): 'It's an important win, especially after the way we lost the first Test.
The boys showed great character to come back and win the next two. The good thing about this team is that we are always positive.
I thought the ball was coming nicely out of the hand, I enjoyed my bowling. Hopefully, whenever I play the next game, I will do the same.'
Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka skipper): 'Disappointed (to lose the game), especially after winning the toss and it was demanding conditions for batters.
Pujara batted very well in the first innings, but our batters flopped again. The bowlers did a good job throughout the match, but we weren't really up to the mark with the bat. The bowlers bowled pretty well, but they (India) batted well.
Unfortunately we gave them a good lead. We had our chances, if myself had carried on for a bit longer, you never know, but India fought really hard, they bowled really well, they are the deserved winners.'
Pujara batted very well in the first innings, but our batters flopped again. The bowlers did a good job throughout the match, but we weren't really up to the mark with the bat. The bowlers bowled pretty well, but they (India) batted well.
Unfortunately we gave them a good lead. We had our chances, if myself had carried on for a bit longer, you never know, but India fought really hard, they bowled really well, they are the deserved winners.'
Cheteshwar Pujara (Man-of-the-Match): 'I think it was a very good opportunity for me. We were 1-1 and I am happy that we won the series.
As we saw throughout the five days, facing the new ball here was challenging. But it was an opportunity for me and my preparation was up to the mark and I believed that I could do well.'
As we saw throughout the five days, facing the new ball here was challenging. But it was an opportunity for me and my preparation was up to the mark and I believed that I could do well.'
Ajinkya Rahane: 'Big, big win, especially after being 0-1 down. Everyone played their roles. Really happy with the win.
It wasn't so difficult because we believed in each other (when asked how difficult it was to bounce back after losing the first Test).
Angelo Mathews' batting heroics went in vain.
The Lanka skipper Mathews (110) and debutant Kusal Perera (70) refused to throw in the towel at the Sinhalese Sports Club delaying India's victory march.
The duo resisted India's victory push for more than 38 overs with gritty defiance but wheels came off the Sri Lankan innings towards the end of the second session. Kusal Perera and Angelo Mathews added 135 runs for the sixth wicket.
Although Mathews went on to complete his 4th Test hundred, as soon as the new ball was available, India took it and Ishant Sharma struck first over after the tea break.
Resuming on 67-3, Sri Lanka lost two wickets in the morning session before the 135-run stand between Mathews and Perera not only halted India's victory bid but also rekindled faint home hopes of a miraculous win.
The stumper-batsman Perera, however, threw away his wicket, reverse sweeping Ashwin (4-69) to Rohit Sharma at point.
Ishant (3-32) then ended all home hopes by trapping Mathews leg before for his 200th test wicket as India went on to win their first test series in Sri Lanka since 1993.
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