Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten has called on his side to dominate the opening session of Day 2 of the 2nd Test against India in Colombo, insisting that early momentum is the key to wrestling control away from the tourists. India closed Day 1 at a commanding 300 for 5, with the match swinging through several phases before the hosts clawed back late.

Kirsten's Assessment of Day 1

Speaking to broadcasters ahead of the resumption of play, Kirsten acknowledged the mixed fortunes of the opening day. 'It was a hard day, and it kind of went in different phases. We started well and there didn't have much going on in the afternoon, but came back really well,' he said. He singled out the pace attack for special praise, noting that the seamers had 'bowled fantastically' to drag Sri Lanka back into a contest that had threatened to slip away during a sluggish middle session.

The First-Session Imperative

Kirsten was direct about what Sri Lanka need to do on Day 2: 'We need to make things happen in the first session today and then go back big.' He flagged the importance of early wickets before his batters take centre stage, adding that the pitch — described as 'pretty docile at the moment' — is expected to offer increasing turn as the match progresses into its third and fourth innings. 'The game ebbs and flows,' he noted. 'We've got to make sure we get a decent partnership on the board with the bat in hand, get wickets early today, and then make some progress through the Test match.'

Asitha and Lahiru Hailed as World-Class

Kirsten reserved particular praise for pace duo Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, who operated at high intensity throughout Day 1. 'I think both Asitha and Lahiru have really shown this Test match that they are world-class Test bowlers and can be up there to do a great job for the team. They're pretty much at full capacity now, which is great to see,' he said. He stressed, however, that the job is far from done: 'Every Test match you need 20 wickets, and you need to get them fairly quickly. So still work to do.'

Young Batters Face a Big Stage

With three young batters in Sri Lanka's top six, Kirsten framed the upcoming batting innings as a defining opportunity. 'It's a great opportunity for them to go out and showcase what they can do at international level,' he observed. The coach — who previously guided India to the top of the ICC Test rankings — acknowledged that his primary focus remains drawing the best out of a relatively inexperienced squad. 'I'm a bit more comfortable with the shape of the team now,' he said, adding that his coaching style is built around getting players to respond rather than following a fixed template.

What to Watch on Day 2

With India's lower order still to bat and the pitch expected to remain placid early, the first hour of play will be critical. A quick Indian declaration or collapse could hand Sri Lanka a significant target to chase on a surface that Kirsten himself expects to turn sharply in the match's closing stages. How the three young Sri Lankan batters handle the pressure of facing India's attack will be the subplot that defines this Test.