India Under-19 253/3 in 65.0 Overs
Asked to bat first, India suffered the worst possible start as first Test double 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, soaking up the pressure before gradually taking control of the innings.
The unbeaten 103 came from 177 deliveries and displayed a combination of patience, good technique and controlled aggression. He tackled the new ball confidently, rotating the strike effectively and capitalizing on scoring opportunities to negate Sri Lanka’s continued momentum. His partnership with captain Yashbardhan Chauhan and Manal Chauhan changed the contest. Yashbardhan contributed a powerful 78 off 89 balls, while Manal remained unbeaten on 55 off 108 deliveries as the pair ensured India remained unbeaten after the third dismissal.
Despite enjoying early success, Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to break down the resistance once Ojha settled in, with the left-hander becoming increasingly dependent as his innings went on. Bad light eventually forced an early end to play, leaving India in a commanding position with seven wickets in hand.
After the drawn-out opening Test, India will be keen to build on the platform created by Ojha and post a formidable first innings total when play resumes on the second day.
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