Test skipper Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan will look to extend their 100-run partnership and build a big lead for Team India when they open proceedings on Day 2 of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at Galle on Thursday.
Kohli and Dhawan ended Day 1 with the score at 128/2, 55 runs short of Sri Lanka's first innings total of 183, after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed six wickets for 46 runs to hand the visitors the advantage.
India began its batting with the loss of two early wickets, opener Lokesh Rahul falling for seven and Rohit Sharma for nine with the score at 28/2. Both batsmen were trapped leg before.
Kohli and Dhawan then steadied the ship with their partnership. Dhawan scored 53, while Kohli ended the day five runs short of his half century.
For the Lankans, skipper Angelo Mathews and right-arm pacer Dhammika Prasad took one wicket apiece. Rangana Herath also contributed, conceding 15 runs and one maiden in his seven overs. Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal were the top-scorers for the hosts, with 64 and 59, respectively.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra took two wickets in his first Test for India since 2011. Pacer Ishant Sharma and spinner Harbhajan Singh took one wicket apiece.
