Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has defended Shubman Gill and team management’s decision to enforce the follow-on in the second Test match against Sri Lanka. The hosts were skittled out for 290 runs in the first innings, and thus India was able to enforce the follow-on, keeping the weather in mind.

However, Sri Lankan batters came up with a rearguard action on the final day as both teams’ players decided to shake hands after the hosts posted 429-9 in the second essay. The home team had a lead of only 16 runs at the end of the fourth day and India needed four wickets to wrap up Sri Lankan innings. 

But Sonal Dinusha continued his rich form, scoring an unbeaten knock of 133 runs. Furthermore, he received support from Keshara Nuwantha and Lahiru Kumara, who batted for 150 and 90 balls respectively.

Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “The follow-on was the right decision. People are debating whether they should have enforced the follow-on or not, saying that if they had batted again, the pitch would have deteriorated further. But, come on, it was already the fourth day, so the pitch was going to deteriorate anyway. When you enforced the follow-on, the pitch was already deteriorating and the ball was moving anyway, right?”

Kaif added that enforcing the follow-on was the right call, considering the rain factor in mind.

“So, I agree with Shubman Gill on the follow-on. He made the right decision because the rainy weather was also a factor, and that was probably on his mind. The follow-on was the right call. But they went on to bat for 150 overs. They batted for 150 overs, which honestly surprises me. They were six down already, and on the entire fifth day, just three wickets fell, and they managed to save this Test match with the tail-enders.”

India won the two-match Test series by 1-0 as they had won the Galle Test by 165 runs.