Harbhajan Singh, with three wickets in England's innings, took his tally of wickets this year to 58. Only South Africa's Dale Steyn (60) has claimed more wickets than Harbhajan in 2008.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal also acknowledged Mendis and Mathews had saved the game for his side, who were dominated by New Zealand over the first three days.
? Australia's players feared another backlash from New Zealand fans after a contentious no ball decision went in their favour in the final over of the first day's play of the first Test on Friday.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will lead India in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, starting November 25, before regular skipper Virat Kohli returns to take charge from the second Test in Mumbai.
Trent Boult provided the impetus needed for New Zealand with a five-wicket haul as the hosts completed an innings and 52-run victory over Bangladesh on the fourth day of the first Test in Hamilton on Sunday.
While South Africa grabbed a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, the visitors squandered a golden opportunity to script a memorable win outside the sub-continent.
Ravichandran Ashwin produced a bowling masterclass to grab 7 for 83 as India recorded their biggest ever win outside the subcontinent by thumping the West Indies by an innings and 92 runs in the first Test at Antigua to take a morale-boosting 1-0 lead in the 4-match Test series on Sunday. It was Ashwin's first five-wicket haul outside the subcontinent.
# India (243) have recorded their lowest total against Bangladesh in Tests, outstripping the 429 in the inaugural Test at Dhaka in November 2000.
Statistical highlights on the fifth and final day of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad.
Usman Khawaja batted bravely for nearly nine hours to make 141 and help Australia salvage a draw in the first Test against Pakistan, in Dubai, on Thursday.
At stumps on day four, with an hour's play lost because of the weather, Sri Lanka were 109 for three, requiring a further 296 runs to pull off an epic victory.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between India and South Africa in Mohali, on Thursday.
Images from Day 5 in the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, in Ahmedabad, on Friday.
'We want to give Rohit Sharma an opportunity to open the innings in Tests'
Statistical highlights from the fourth day's play of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Statistical highlights at the end of second day's play in the first cricket Test between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Statistical highlights at the end of third day's play in the first Test between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
A fresh coronavirus outbreak in Adelaide forced Australian players, including captain Tim Paine, into self-isolation but the country's cricket board asserted that the first Test against India here from December 17 will go ahead as scheduled.
Statistical highlights of the third day's play in the first Test between India and New Zealand, at Hamilton, on Friday.
India 'A' extended their domination of the hosts to the Tests after they opted to bat
Sohail and Asad Shafiq (80) put on 150 for the fifth wicket on a placid track at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as Australia's bowlers toiled in the intense heat.
The Indian cricket team on Monday got down to serious business for the new season with a strenuous training session ahead of the first Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday.
Umesh Yadav gave a brilliant exhibition of reverse swing bowling before Mitchell Starc's rearguard half-century helped Australia reach a competitive 256 for nine.
Images from the third day's play in the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Dale Steyn's figures of seven for 51 are his best ever in Test cricket, bettering the six for 49 he took against New Zealand at Centurion in November 2007.
Images from Day 5 of the first Test between Bangladesh and India in Chittagong on Thursday.
IMAGES of the Indian men's cricket team during a practice session at the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Monday
With Bumrah leading the charge, India prised out five wickets in the second session to snuff out South Africa's hopes of reaching the 200 mark.
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor mastered a lifeless England attack to lift New Zealand to 303 for two at the close on the second day of the first Test at Lord's on Friday.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal will miss next week's first Test against India after being diagnosed with pneumonia, dealing a big blow to the hosts ahead of the three-match home series against their neighbours.
Rain washed out the second day of the first Test between Australia and South Africa at the Gabba on Saturday.
South Africa were 224 for six at the close of play in a chilly Dunedin with a lead of 191 runs entering the final day on a pitch that is turning but offering little assistance for the pace bowlers and is proving difficult to score from.
Bangladesh made a steady start and reached 74 for the loss of one wicket at lunch on day one of the first Test in Chittagong on Friday.
Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja hammered home the advantage their bowlers had established when they took Australia to 147-3, a deficit of just 36 runs, at the close of the opening day's play in the first Test against New Zealand on Friday.
India (454 for eight) recorded their highest total against South Africa in South Africa, in the first Test, bettering the 414 at Cape Town in January 2007.
Vishwa Fernando bagged four wickets as Sri Lanka took the honours on day one of the first Test against South Africa by reducing their hosts to 235 all out at Kingsmead on Wednesday.
Statistical highlights of the third day's play in the first Test between India and Sri lanka in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Here's how pundits and big names, including England footballer Gary Lineker reacted to the win...
