Asked to bat first, India suffered the worst possible start as first Test centurion Lakshya Raichandani and centurion Sagar Virk were dismissed for ducks, reducing the visitors to 0/2. With Sri Lanka sensing an opportunity, Ojha responded with remarkable maturity, absorbing the pressure before gradually taking charge of the innings.
The left-hander’s unbeaten 103 came from 177 deliveries and showed a mixture of patience, sound technique and controlled aggression. He fielded the new ball with confidence, rotated the strike effectively and capitalized on scoring opportunities to deny Sri Lanka sustained momentum. His partnerships with captain Yashbardhan Chauhan and Manal Chauhan transformed the contest. Yashbardhan contributed 78 off 89 balls, while Manal was unbeaten on 55 off 108 deliveries as the pair ensured India lost no more wickets after the third over.
Despite the early success, Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to break down resistance once Ojha settled in, with the left-hander growing increasingly assured as his innings progressed. Bad light eventually forced an end to play, leaving India in a commanding position with seven wickets in hand.
After the drawn opening Test, India will be eager to build on the platform created by Ojha and post a formidable first innings total when play resumes on day two.