India, Aug. 23 -- India being 42-0 in 10 overs out of 300/5 in 85 overs is not remarkable by itself. This spell of play, though, in the middle of Day 1 of the second Test where Sri Lanka employed the leg theory, will stick out for the home team's defensive mindset.

After being out-bowled by the visiting spinners at Galle in the first Test, Sri Lanka stuck to playing four specialist bowlers at Colombo. Having played 46 previous matches at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, they would have known exactly what's best for the surface. Prabhat Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha were their primary spinners and one would have thought of their wicket-taking options.

Strangely, at the first sighting of a threatening partnership between Shubman Gill a...