After a short break, Team India is back in action and this time in the long format of the game against Sri Lanka. India would look to continue to their recent success, their home season of 2016/17 has been of the best performance, even coming close to matching the success rate of the Australian side of 2005/06.
The two-side met earlier this year, was India crushed the Lankans in their own backyard, defeating them 9-0 across all formats. This provides the Lankans with the motive to perform better and avenge their humiliating loss at home. It has been a year of mediocrity on the field for the Lankans, success has been rare and off-field shenanigans has been more. Thus the dream of winning the Test India may be out of their reach at the moment.
India meanwhile, appear to be operating in a completely different universe, where the biggest challenge seems to be stemming from competition for spots on the side. If the rain stays away in Kolkata - which is a big IF for the first couple of days - Kohli & Co. should be well on course to extend India's unbeaten streak in Tests over Sri Lanka at home.
Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan/Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami/Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav
Probable XI: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Dasun Shanaka/Lahiru Gamage, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath