Team India had a tremendous opportunity to end their Test series in Sri Lanka with a convincing 2-0 victory, but a frustrating final day in Colombo made it possible for Sri Lanka to escape with a draw. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif felt that Sri Lanka managed to secure a draw due to a lack of urgency from the Indian side. Moreover, Kaif felt that Virat Kohli’s presence might have added the edge India needed during a tense day in the field.
India, who began the final day in a commanding position, needed only four more wickets to complete the series sweep after Sri Lanka were six wickets down. For Sri Lanka, Sonal Dinusha stood firm and reached an unbeaten century to steer Sri Lanka to a draw.
"Playing Test cricket is not everyone's cup of tea, boss. It is a very long game, and you have to keep bowling continuously. I felt that if someone like Virat Kohli had been playing this match, he would have been constantly shouting and keeping his team switched on. At times, I felt we took things for granted, thinking, 'Just keep bowling; it will happen. The ball is turning so much, it will happen on its own'," Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Kaif felt that India lacked the perpetual intensity that was needed to put Sri Lanka under pressure and help India have a blistering finish.
"We created very few things ourselves. Our energy levels were also very low. That is why I am saying, if Virat Kohli had been playing this Test match, the result would have been different,” Kaif said.