(Eds: repeating after correcting headline) By Tapan Mohanta Kolkata, Nov 15 (PTI) India would look to continue theirruthless streak while Sri Lanka would want to forget theannihilation suffered at home and chase what has been animprobable dream of winning a Test here when the two teamsclash in a three-match series, starting here tomorrow.
There is a possibility of rain threat after home team'smorning practice session was called off after a spell ofshower.
India had inflicted on Sri Lanka, a humiliating 9-0whitewash across three formats even as they bounced back tosecure a surprise 2-0 win against Pakistan in the UAE.
There will be no let up from Team India, who are takingthis series as a preparation for the gruelling two-month longSouth Africa tour where they play three Tests, six ODIs andthree T20Is beginning with Cape Town Test on January 5.
Since that Test series in July-August, the hosts haveplayed 13 ODIs and six Twenty20s but adjusting to the rigoursof the longer-version of the game should not be an issue sincemost of the team members have played Ranji Trophy matches fortheir respective sides.
That the Islanders have not won a single Test in 16appearances over 35 years (they first played in India in 1982)and travel with an inexperienced side will make the taskonerous for skipper Dinesh Chandimal.
He will bank heavily on Angelo Mathews and left-armspinner Rangana Herath - the two senior members who were partof the side which travelled here in 2009.
The Met office has predicted rain till November 18 underthe influence of a well-marked low-pressure area that ismaking its way up the Bay of Bengal along the Indian coast andthe series-opener may be a curtailed affair.
India look supremely confident at home barring a coupleof selection dilemma looking at the Eden's seemingly greentopstrip which may pave the way for the return of BhuvneshwarKumar in a likely three-plus-two bowling combination.
Bhuvneshwar last played a Test against Australia inDharamsala in March this year and looked in good rhythm duringIndia's practice sessions.
He will relish the conditions at the Eden where he pickedup a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in the last Testplayed here in September 2016 as he may join the other twopace duo of Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami.
In the spin line-up, India may stick to their their thirdTest line-up in Pallekele where chinaman Kuldeep Yadav madeway for left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.
The chinaman not only rolled his arm at the nets but hadan extended batting session but it remains to be seen if Indialeaves out Jadeja, who is also a handy option with the bat.
Murali Vijay is back after recovering from a wrist injurythat had left him out of the Sri Lanka tour. The Tamil Naduopener is confident after his 140 against Odisha in Cuttackbut was not seen much in action during practice, an indicationthat Kohli may stick to Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul up front.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored two centuries in Sri Lanka,not only gives the Indian batting solidity but has a calmingeffect on the team with his penchant for marathon innings.
Further down, skipper Kohli will be desperate to be backamong runs after getting only one second innings hundredagainst Sri Lanka at Galle (103).
In the middle order, Ajinkya Rahane too was among runswith a century and a fifty in Sri Lanka. In the absence ofHardik Pandya, who has been rested, R Ashwin will look toshoulder the responsibility in batting.
If winning a Test is a dream for Chandimal, it would notcome easy as their batsmen will have to spend considerabletime on the crease.
Touted as Sri Lanka's next big thing, SadeeraSamarawickrama is likely to take the opening slot left vacantafter the sacking of Kaushal Silva.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne is fresh from a career-best 196against Pakistan in the Dubai Test and the soutpaw would lookto carry forward his form.
The team think tank has made it clear that Mathews, theseniormost member in their batting group, will not be used inbowling and the onus would be on him to return among runs.
Incidentally, his last hundred came against India -- aknock of 102 in Colombo in August, 2015.
In the bowling, they will rely heavily on Herath but itremains to be seen who will assist him.
They have the promising chinaman Lakshan Sandakan who hada five-wicket haul against India in the Pallekele Test but inIndian conditions it remains to be seen whether they will optthe inexperienced spinner ahead of offspinner Dilruwan Perera.
Teams (from) India: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), ShikharDhawan, KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, RohitSharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin,Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvenshwar Kumar, UmeshYadav, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne(vice-captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama,Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Dilruwan Perera, RanganaHerath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage, Dhananjaya de Silva,Angelo Mathews, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, DasunShanaka and Roshen Silva.
Match starts: 0900am IST. PTI TAP AT KHSAT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.