Match Preview - 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of India at Kolkata, Nov 16-20 2017

 

Sri Lanka resume search for first Test win in India

   

 

Match facts

November 16-20, 2017
Start time 0930 local (0400 GMT)

Big Picture

India v Sri Lanka again? Didn't they play last week? Or was it last month? Might have been last season. Who could care?
Such is the apathy towards the contest that it is almost forgotten that Sri Lanka were last invited to play Test cricket in India, during "prime time", was a full eight years ago. For purposes of rhythm no doubt, they played the matches on exact same dates - November 16, November 24 and December 2, 2009 - while the country was busy celebrating Sachin Tendulkar's 20 years in international cricket. Only immigration officers knew Sri Lanka had been in the country for a week when the pre-match press conferences began.
If India were stuck in the past in 2009, it would appear they already have their minds in the future - in South Africa. Hardik Pandya, whose only Tests have come against Sri Lanka, has been rested because he is believed to be the one to make the difference overseas. If India seal this Sri Lanka series in the first two Tests, it is possible even captain Virat Kohli might give the rest of the tour a miss. Why, even the green pitch for the first Test at Eden Gardens might suggest South Africa has come in earnest.
The last time Sri Lanka came to India, they caught the hosts by surprise and had them 32 for 4 on the first day of the series, the last bit of ascendency they enjoyed. They will now hope not only to catch India on the hop but for a longer period of time.
The last time Sri Lanka came to India, the hosts would become the No. 1 side in the world. Now, they are already on top of the rankings, a more ruthless, bowler-oriented version of MS Dhoni's team. And Sri Lanka? Well, they were the No. 2 side in 2009 but in the lead up to 2017, they lost Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Dilshan, Samaraweera, Muralitharan and their prominence in international cricket. Not only have Sri Lanka lost legends as players but, until as recently as last month, also as possible advisors to take them into the next era.
A more pressing concern is the batting, which needs a lot of work to stand up to India's bowling might, which will be further accentuated on home surfaces. Even though they won the series in Pakistan 2-0, Sri Lanka are keeping their ambitions realistic: they will be happy if they can win a Test, their first, in India.

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
India: WWWWD
Sri Lanka: WWLLL