As the first test between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens ended in a draw, after a dramatic, tense and gruelling final hour of the final day, Nic Pothas, the Head Coach of touring side, expressed his happiness with his team’s performance and fighting spirit. Sri Lanka were finally able to pose a challenge to India in the first Test after being hammered in the home series and that, according to Pothas, was a huge positive.
“We did not compete at all in the series in Sri Lanka. We have been very competitive here in the first Test that’s a huge positive, credit to everyone in the team and the support staff. We got tougher, we got success in UAE and played well here,” Pothas said at the post-match media conference.
Sri Lanka were routed at home 0-9 across three formats by India three months ago but they bounced back to win two Tests against Pakistan in UAE.
Pothas said the side which is in transition after the departure of two legends — Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara — are up for the challenges.
“Process began in Sri Lanka absolutely. Things like that do not happen overnight. We are certainly not going to be counting our chickens… We played a couple of good Tests against Pakistan, were competitive here but we have a long way to go. This side is going to be a very good side looking into the future there’s no doubt.”
“It’s fantastic, isn’t it? It’s Test match cricket. It’s a tough environment, it’s a cauldron and that’s how players earn respect from each other. I thought it was played fantastically well. Very tough, high pressured game.” “We bowled very well, we fielded very well and the intensity was good. We did have India under pressure. Virat played a fantastic innings to set up a very good game of Test match cricket. I don’t think anything went wrong. It was a very good cricket from both sides,” he concluded.
