'Can bowl long spells, sustain pace. You need him': Gavaskar hails 'terrific' 31-year-old as India's perfect 'workhorse'

Following the breath-taking day, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar singled out India's 31-year-old star as Rohit Sharma's perfect "workhorse".

16 wickets fell on the opening day of the pink-ball Test in Bengaluru, six of them were picked by the Indian attack in just 30 overs in the final session and five of those were by the pacers as the hosts managed to reduce Sri Lanka to 86 for six after scoring 252 in the first innings. Following the breath-taking day, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar singled out India's 31-year-old star as Rohit Sharma's perfect "workhorse".

Indian cricket team; Sunil Gavaskar

Speaking to Star Sports at the end of Day 1 at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, Gavaskar was effusive in his praise for Mohammed Shami who had picked two wickets in six overs for 18 runs. The legendary batter hailed Shami's ability to bowl long spell and sustain the pace and also praised his incredible ability to get the ball moving with the flick of his wrist at the point of release.

India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, 2nd Test, Day 2

“Yes he is somebody who can bowl long spells, sustain that pace, and can build pressure with every single delivery. You need somebody like that. He has been terrific as well. People often forget that sometimes you got to be one of the quicker bowlers has to be a workhorse that means he has to bowl not just a four-over spell, but a six or seven-over spell and that is what Shami does. He runs in hard every ball and gives you everything. And he has got this ability that with just a little flick of the wrist he gets the ball to move either way. Tough to play him,” he said.

Gavaskar also praised the Indian pace attack, calling them “fabulous” and “exceptional” following their splendid display with the ball after the dinner break in Bengaluru.

“This Indian attack is a fabulous attack altogether. The new-ball attack is exceptional. Japrit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, there is Mohammed Siraj waiting, then Ishant Sharma, who did such a fabulous job but is not in the scheme of things at the moment and there is Umesh Yadav as well,” he said.

Sri Lanka stand 166 runs behind India's first innings total. Besides Shami, Bumrah picked three wickets for 15 while Axar Patel picked the other after Shreyas Iyer's extraordinary 92 helped India finish with 252 on board.