India were 669 for nine wickets at the close of the fourth day of the second test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
The Indian total was helped by a stellar debut century by Suresh Raina and Sachin Tendulkar who coasted to his fifth double hundred.
Sri Lanka had scored 642-4 and declared to put pressure on India that suffered heavily from poor bowling and a placid pitch.
But Raina and Tendulkar carried their overnight partnership to 256 runs, an Indian record against Sri Lanka for the fifth wicket, before the former became the only wicket to fall on a day where the batsmen were once again dominant.
The breakthrough arrived in the seventh over after lunch when Raina failed to keep down a drive off spinner Ajantha Mendis and gave a catch to short midwicket. He batted 228 balls for his 120, which comprised 10 fours and a six.
Tendulkar completed his double century off 338 balls and was unbeaten on 202, having hit one six and 23 fours. Dhoni was 50 not out at the interval.
Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 following their 10-wicket success in last week's first test in Galle.
Scores at stumps: Sri Lanka 642-4 declared (T. Paranavitana 100, K. Sangakkara 219, M. Jayawardene 174)
India 669-9 (M. Vijay 58, V. Sehwag 99, S. Tendulkar 203, S. Raina 120, M.S. Dhoni 76).