Pant, who had earlier retired hurt with a wrist injury while batting, returned to the crease but was struck on the shoulder by a couple of short deliveries. Morkel said the team would assess him overnight before deciding on his availability behind the stumps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cRishabh obviously got hit on the shoulder. I think that it was discussed last night,\u201d Morkel said. \u201cIt is quite badly bruised. I think he was just a little bit restricted in his movement this morning when he tried to warm up. I think they\u2019ll keep on monitoring him now overnight, and hopefully, he\u2019ll be behind the stumps for us tomorrow. I think it\u2019s important to have him there. His reading of the game is exceptional.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India were in a strong position at the end of the third day, but the Sri Lanka lower-order saved the visitors from having complete control. The hosts need another 39 runs to avoid the follow-on, and Sonal Dinusha is not out on 85, in a ninth-wicket partnership that has already lasted more than 15 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India have bowled only 222 overs in the first three days, so the weather will play a part in their decision to ask Sri Lanka to bat again.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India's immediate focus will be to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings quickly before taking a call, Morkel said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThat will be the first prize\u2026that we can get those two wickets tomorrow early,\u201d Morkel said. \u201cI know it\u2019s a clich\u00e9 thing, but you know, with the weather around and sometimes the time it takes to take the covers on and off, we want to try and get as many overs as possible to the Sri Lankans. So hopefully, we can get those wickets tomorrow and then be brave, put them in, and bowl well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The prospect of enforcing the follow-on would go against India\u2019s recent inclination to bat again when they get the chance. In Delhi, India had to bowl 118.5 overs on a deteriorating pitch before chasing down 121 on the fifth day, the last time Shubman Gill enforced it against West Indies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But the weather in Colombo could make a repeat less appealing, with India possibly needing to make the most of the time available to engineer a result.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The pitch has been pretty good for batting too. India took only six wickets in 80.4 overs on the third day, with a few dismissals coming against the run of play. \u201cIt is always difficult to bowl in these conditions and such periods are important for India\u2019s development,\u201d Morkel said. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt is hard work out there, you know,\u201d Morkel said. \u201cI think sometimes even we get sucked into that expectation where we think it looks slightly dry and we need to bowl teams out for under 200. But unfortunately, at times it\u2019s not gonna work like that. It\u2019s tough conditions; it\u2019s hot, hot conditions. The ball goes soft quite quickly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The pitch has been pretty good for batting too. India took only six wickets in 80.4 overs on the third day, with a few dismissals coming against the run of play. \u201cIt is always difficult to bowl in these conditions and such periods are important for India\u2019s development,\u201d Morkel said. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
India will be looking for quick wickets on the fourth morning with the second new ball only 3.2 overs old at stumps and offering more opportunities than the older ball. \"Every over could be crucial in a Test match, and if they can get the last two Sri Lankan wickets quickly, the decision to enforce the follow-on could be crucial.<\/p>\r\n\r\n