Biggest victory margin win in the opening Galle test has exposed the weaker team in the India-Sri Lanka test series. But Kohli's problems don't end there. This week, he will have to decide his two openers and it won't be an easy decision at all.
When the series started, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay were the two primary openers and Mukund as the standby. But things changed in the week leading up to the game, as Vijay's injury meant a comeback for Dhawan as the standby opener with Mukund and Rahul slated to open. With less than 48 hours to the first test, Rahul caught a viral fever that meant he had to opt out of the Galle game. As luck would have it, Dhawan , who was not even the top three openers, walked into the opening eleven.
The Lady Fortune contributed to shine on Dhawan. Early in his innings, Dhawan edged a ball outside his off and a catch was dropped in the slips. Dhawan made most of that let off and went on to score an imposing 190 runs. That knock helped India get to 399 on Day-1 and set it up for the visitors. Mukund failed to get a start in the first innings and looked set to be replaced by Rahul. However, the Lady Fortune shone on Mukund too, as India opted to bat instead of following on after a big lead.
As it unfolded, Mukund scored a solid knock of 81, before falling at the fag end of the day's play, missing out on his maiden hundred. At the end of Galle test, both Dhawan and Mukund proved their mettle and with Rahul fit for the second game, it would be interesting if Kohli decides to play Mukund ahead of Rahul, or welcomes back the prolific Rahul despite Mukund's fifty.
Mukund might have his heart in the mouth, as Kohli ponders over the selections. It is a good problem to have after all, the problem of plenty.
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