India cricket team captain Virat Kohli finished his 17th Test ton on Saturday and then let his bowlers destroy injury-hit Sri Lanka to claim a 304-run victory inside four days in their first Test.
Targeting 550 to win, Dimuth Karunaratne made 97 for Sri Lanka, but after his departure in the final session their expectations sank into river in Galle.
With all-rounder Asela Gunaratne and stand-in captain Rangana Herath unable to bat through injury, Sri Lanka called it a day with eight wickets down for the total of 245.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin each took three wickets for the dominant tourists.
Kohli modestly called it a “clinical performance” after his side scored 600 in the first innings and then restricted Sri Lanka to 291.
India lost the opening match in Galle two years ago, but went on to take the series 2-1 and then return to number one in the Test rankings in the following months.
“We are a more experienced side now. We are playing more consistent cricket and that shows,” Kohli said after the big win.
Karunaratne's stubborn 208-ball innings took him past 2,500 career Test runs but did not find enough support at the other end.
Mohammed Shami forced Karunaratne's fellow opener Upul Tharanga to play the ball onto his stumps for 10. Danushka Gunathilaka went for two, giving an easy catch to Cheteshwar Pujara at short square leg two overs later.
Kusal Mendis made a promising 36 before he made the thinnest of touches to wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha. The third umpire gave it out after a Kohli appeal.
Former Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews, with two to his name, gave the easiest of catches to Hardik Pandya as he skipped down the wicket looking for a big hit.
Wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella made 67 and his 101 partnership with Karunaratne raised Sri Lankan hopes for a while, before he was also caught behind.
“We need to improve ourselves fast — the batting, bowling and fielding,” said Sri Lankan captain Herath. Gunaratne has been ruled out of the rest of the series with a fractured finger but veteran Herath said his injured finger would be better again in a few days.
The second Test begins in Colombo on August 3.