HR Gopala Krishna, Statistician of crickick.com files the highlights of the first day’s play from Kanpur. Read on ….

First day’s highlights

India capped P Ojha for this match. He became the 260^th Indian Cricketer to play tests. He is the 12^th Indian cricketer to make his debut against Sri Lanka.

S Sreesanth was making his comeback in this test. His last test was against South Africa at Kanpur in Apr 2008.

G Gambhir and V Sehwag added 233 runs for the first wicket providing the 39^th occasion of Indian batsmen posting a three figure partnership for various wickets against Sri Lanka. This stands also represents the sixth occasion of a three figure partnership for the first wicket against Sri Lanka.

G Gambhir and V Sehwag added 233 runs for the first wicket providing the sixth occasion of Indian batsmen posting a three figure partnership for various wickets against Sri Lanka. This stands also represents the first occasion of a 200 plus runs partnership for the first wicket against Sri Lanka. Previous best was 171 runs between M Prabhakar and NS Sidhu at Col-SSC in Jul 93

V Sehwag’s 131 represent the 39^th hundred by Indian batsmen against Sri Lanka. It also represents the 16^th hundred by V Sehwag in a test innings. It was his second hundred against Sri Lanka, the first being his 201 not out at Galle in Jul 2008

V Sehwag {131} and G Gambhir {167} scored hundreds in India’s first innings providing the 62^nd occasion of both the openers scoring hundreds in a test innings. It is the sixth occasion of Indian opening batsmen achieving such a feat. This also represents the second occasion of both the openers scoring hundreds against Sri Lanka. The first occasion was Australian openers JL Langer {162} and ML Hayden {117} at Cairns in Jul 04.

G Gambhir hundred in this game was his fourth hundred in consecutive tests. He had scored 16 and 137 vs New Zealand in Mar 09, 23 and 167 vs New Zealand in Apr 09 and 1 and 114 vs Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad in Nov 09 in his three previous tests. His feat provides the 16^th occasion of a batsman scoring four or more hundreds in consecutive tests. He is the third Indian batsman after SM Gavaskar and R Dravid to register four hundreds in consecutive tests

R Dravid’s half century in was his 24^th half century on home soil. It represents the most half centuries by an Indian batsman on home soil. He wrested the record from SM Gavaskar and SR Tendulkar who have scored 23 half centuries to their credit.

SR Tendulkar appearance in this test was his 21^st outing against Sri Lanka – most by a cricketer in India-Sri Lanka test series. He wrested the record from A Ranatunga and M Muralitharan who have played 20 tests. M Muralitharan was playing his 20^th match and equaled the Sri Lankan record of most appearances by a Sri Lankan cricketer against India held by A Ranatunga

India’s total of 417 for 2 represents the most runs scored by India on the first day’s play. It also represents the 34^th occasion of teams registering 400 plus runs on the first day’s play in a test match.

India’s 417 plus runs for the loss of two wickets represents the fifth occasion of a team scoring 400 plus runs on the first day’s play losing two wickets and less than two wickets.

G Gambhir was caught and bowled by M Muralitharan giving him his 34^th caught and bowled dismissal. A Kumble with 35 caught and bowled dismissals is ahead of Muralitharan

G Gambhir and V Sehwag became the 12th pair of opening batsmen in the world to post 200 runs partnership for the first wicket on two or more occasions in the annals of test cricket. They are the first Indian pair to achieve the feat. They were concerned in a 218 runs stand against South Africa at Kanpur in Nov 04 and 233 runs in this test.