India beat Lanka by an innings and 171 runs, complete their first sweep ever in an away series having three or more matchesA ruthless India crushed Sri Lanka inside three days in the final Test on Monday to complete a 3-0 whitewash in one of the most one-sided Test series in recent times. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and paceman Mohammed Shami shared seven wickets between them as the world’s top-ranked side shot out Sri Lanka for 181 to win by an innings and 171 runs.

The beleaguered hosts, whose second innings ended shortly after the tea break, had been asked to follow on after managing 135 in their first innings in reply to India’s 487. Ashwin picked up 4/68 in the second innings while Shami finished with 3/32 in an inspired bowling performance by India. “A good day, a good win for us. Very happy with the overall performance and it always feels nice to have convincing victories,” said India captain Virat Kohli.

“We are a young side. We look forward to playing Test cricket, we look forward to playing with the same excitement. That’s the only way you can be ruthless.”

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who scored his maiden Test hundred on Sunday, was adjudged Man of the Match while opener Shikhar Dhawan, a last minute replacement for Murali Vijay, was named Player of the Series.

Sri Lanka’s highest partnership of 65 came between captain Dinesh Chandimal, who made 36, and former skipper Angelo Mathews (35). Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella chipped in with a fluent 41. Their hopes of avoiding an innings loss rested on a solid start but Ashwin struck in his first over of the day to jolt the hosts.

The off-spinner sent back opener Dimuth Karunaratne for 16 after Sri Lanka had resumed on 19/1. The left-hander was caught by Ajinkya Rahane at slip after getting a thick edge to a turning delivery. Nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara was caught behind off Shami, who also dismissed Kusal Mendis for 12 to reduce the hosts to 38/4.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav broke the stand between Chandimal and Mathews when he dismissed the former through a bat-pad catch at short leg. Once Mathews was out leg before to Ashwin, India’s win was merely a formality.

“Our batting and bowling was below-par through the series,” Chandimal said after his team’s failure to make any of the Tests last full five days. “We have to be more patient and concentrate more.” The two sides will now clash in five ODIs and a T20, starting on Sunday. — Reuters

1 India have white-washed an away series of three or more Tests for the first time. They have won three Tests in an overseas series for the second time — the first occasion being when they won 3-1 vs New Zealand under Tiger Pataudi’s captaincy in 1967-68.

4 For the fourth time, Sri Lanka have lost a home Test within three days. The first three instances being vs Pakistan in 1994 and in 2006, both at Kandy, and vs England at Colombo (SSC) in 2001.

65.51 Virat Kohli enjoys an outstanding record as captain — his success percentage of 65.51 is the highest among the Indian captains in Tests. India’s record under his captaincy being 19 victories, three defeats and seven drawn matches in 29 Tests.

2 Number of centuries Shikhar Dhawan scored in the series. He was adjudged Man of the Series. His tally of 358 (avg. 89.50) is his best ever in a Test series. He finished as the top run-scorer on either side in the series.

2 India’s triumphs by an innings at Pallekele is their second biggest in an overseas Test.

We will look at alternatives only if Dhoni doesn’t deliver: Prasad

Pallekele: Chief selector MSK Prasad today said that former skipper MS Dhoni’s future is being discussed at selection meetings but they will look at alternatives only if the Jharkhand dasher doesn’t deliver. After explaining Yuvraj Singh’s omission, Prasad was asked about Dhoni and he replied: “Discussions happen about everybody. It is not just MS. When we pick