1st Test: Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan shine on Day 1 for India

Welcome to the coverage of the 1st Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International stadium in Sri Lanka. First Test Preview

An eventful day for India and a rather forgetful one for Sri Lanka at Galle. After deciding to bat first, Sri Lanka were skittled out for a paltry 183 runs in 49.4 overs. Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for India after he scalped six wickets while conceding 46 runs in his spell of 13.4 overs. Amit Mishra (2), Ishant Sharma (1) and Varun Aaron (1) were also amongst wickets for India. Skipper Angelo Mathews (64) and Dinesh Chandimal (59) were the only silver lining in Sri Lanka's short innings. In reply, India lost KL Rahul (7) and Rohit Sharma (9) early in the innings to give a glimmer of hope to the opposition bowlers. But, Shikhar Dhawan (53*) and Virat Kohli (45*) negated the probing deliveries of the Lankan bowlers to ensure India ended Day 1 at 128/2 in 34 overs without losing more wickets.

SEVEN RUNS off the over.

21.5 overs: FOUR!! Virat Kohli takes it on the full and swats it past mid-on for an easy boundary. POOR BOWLING from Kaushal there!!

With Shikhar Dhawan (33) and Virat Kohli (20) at crease, India are currently at 77/2 after 21 overs.

EIGHT RUNS off the over!!

17.6 overs: FOUR!! Virat Kohli leans into the drive and sends it scurrying through extra cover for a boundary. That's Kohli AT HIS BEST!!

17.5 overs: Catch-Dropped!! Angelo Mathews has dropped Shikhar Dhawan in the slip cordon. Dhawan drives on the up and gets an outside edge towards Mathews who spills an easy chance. That might come back to HAUNT the Lankans!!

That's a WICKET MAIDEN by Mathews!!

Indian captain Virat Kohli walks down the middle to partner Shikhar Dhawan.

Rohit Sharma's DISMAL FORM continues in Test cricket.

9.3 overs: OUT!! Angelo Mathews has got Rohit Sharma out lbw on a good length delivery. Sharma was looking to defend but ball nips back in sharply to hit his pad in front of the stumps. Rohit Sharma departs after scoring nine runs off 24 balls with a boundary. Another BLOW for India!!

With Shikhar Dhawan (7) and Rohit Sharma (2) at crease, India are currently at 18/1 after five overs.

EIGHT RUNS off the over.

Rohit Sharma comes to the crease for India. A BIG TEST for the Mumbai batsman here!!

2.6 overs: That's OUT!! Dhammika Prasad has got KL Rahul out lbw on a good length delivery. Rahul was looking to push it along the ground but gets beaten with the movement as the ball crashes onto the pads in front of the stumps. KL Rahul departs after scoring seven runs off seven balls. EARLY BLOW for India!!

FIVE RUNS off the over.

1.6 overs: FOUR!! Shikhar Dhawan leans forward and sends it scurrying through covers for the first boundary in the Indian innings. Dhawan brings up his 1000 RUNS IN TESTS!!

Nuwan Pradeep will bowl from the other end for Sri Lanka.

TIDY START by Prasad, just ONE RUN off it.

Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul are out in the middle for India while Dhammika Prasad will start the proceedings for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka have been bowled out for a paltry 183 runs in 49.4 overs. Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for India after he scalped six wickets while conceding 46 runs in his spell of 13.4 overs. Amit Mishra (2), Ishant Sharma (1) and Varun Aaron (1) were also amongst wickets for India. Skipper Angelo Mathews (64) and Dinesh Chandimal (59) were the top-scorers for Sri Lanka.

Ravichandran Ashwin BAGS HIS SIXTH WICKET and puts Sri Lanka OUT OF THEIR MISERY.

49.4 overs: OUT!! Ravichandran Ashwin has bowled Rangana Herath on a flighted delivery. Herath was looking to play the slog sweep but misses it as the ball crashes onto the stumps. Rangana Herath departs after scoring 23 runs off 24 balls with four boundaries.

TWO RUNS off the over.

Nuwam Pradeep comes to the crease for Sri Lanka.

48.2 overs: That's OUT!! Amit Mishra has got Tharindu Kaushal out caught at short leg. Kaushal was looking to defend but gets an inside edge that went straight into the hands of Rohit Sharma who doesn't drop those. Tharindu Kaushal departs for a golden duck. That's TWO IN TWO for Mishra!!

Tharindu Kaushal comes out in the middle for Sri Lanka.

48.1 overs: OUT!! Amit Mishra has got Dinesh Chandimal out caught at first slip. Chandimal was looking to go over the midwicket but gets an outside edge that goes straight in to the hands of Ajinkya Rahane who grabs it easily. Dinesh Chandimal departs after scoring 59 runs off 77 balls with nine fours. Mishra GETS HIS FIRST WICKET for India!!

With Rangana Herath (3) and Dinesh Chandimal (58) at crease, Sri Lanka are currently at 161/7 after 46 overs.

That's a WICKET MAIDEN from Ashwin.

Ravichandran Ashwin claims a well-deserved FIVE-FOR as the Lankans CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE against the spin.

43.3 overs: OUT!! Ravichandran Ashwin has got Dhammika Prasad out lbw on a pitched up delivery. Prasad was looking to push it off the backfoot but gets beaten with the spin as the ball strikes his pad right in front of the stumps. Dhammika Prasad departs for a duck. Sri Lanka LOSE ANOTHER WICKET!!

ONE RUN off the over.

Ravichandran Ashwin ends Angelo Mathews' resistance and GETS HIS FOURTH WICKET of the innings.

41.3 overs: That's OUT!! Ravichandran Ashwin has got Angelo Mathews out caught at short leg. Mathews was looking to play it with the spin down the leg side but got a thick edge that went towards Rohit Sharma who pulled off a stunning one-handed catch. Angelo Mathews departs after scoring 64 runs off 92 balls with six fours and a six. BIG WICKET for India!!

NINE RUNS off the over!!

40.5 overs: FOUR!! Angelo Mathews slashes hard and gets an outside edge past the slip cordon for a boundary. BACK-TO-BACK BOUNDARIES for Mathews!!

40.4 overs: FOUR!! Angelo Mathews swivels across and clips it towards fine leg for a boundary.

With Angelo Mathews (55) and Dinesh Chandimal (34) at crease, Sri Lanka are currently at 125/5 after 39 overs.

38.5 overs: FOUR!! Dinesh Chandimal goes on the backfoot and crashes the cut past backward point for a boundary. Chandimal is GROWING IN CONFIDENCE here!!

NINE RUNS off the over!!

37.1 overs: Angelo Mathews shimmies down the wicket and smokes it over long-on for the first six of the innings. Mathews brings up his FIFTY in style!!

26.6 overs: FOUR!! Angelo Mathews waits for it and smashes it towards square leg for a boundary. That wasn't TOO SHORT for Ishant's liking!!

FIVE RUNS off the over.

24.2 overs: Catch-Dropped!! Wriddhiman Saha has dropped Dinesh Chandimal behind the stumps. Chandimal went for the drive and got an outside edge that went straight towards Saha who dropped an absolute sitter. That's JUST POOR from Saha!!

Lunch: India's bid to register their first series win in Sri Lanka since 1993 began on a positive note with the visitors bagging five wickets in the first session. Ishant Sharma claimed the first wicket after dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne early in the innings. In the very next over, Varun Aaron scalped Kaushal Silva to trigger the batting collapse for Sri Lanka. Ravichandran Ashwin came into the attack in 12th over and immediately made an impact after sending Kumar Sangakkara back in the hut. The Indian spinner went on to claim two more wickets (Lahiru Thirimanne and Jeham Mubarak) before lunch to put Sri Lanka on backfoot at 65/5 in 23 overs.

SIX RUNS off the over.

21.5 overs: FOUR!! Dinesh Chandimal bends down and sweeps it powerfully towards deep square leg for an easy boundary. Chandimal GETS OFF THE MARK in style!!

Dinesh Chandimal walks down the middle for Sri Lanka.

Ravichandran Ashwin is TAKING OUT BATSMEN AT WILL at the moment!!

21.3 overs: That's OUT!! Ravichandran Ashwin has got Jehan Mubarak out caught at short leg. Mubarak was looking to push it along the ground but the extra bounce forced an edge that went straight towards KL Rahul who takes it easily. Jehan Mubarak departs for a golden duck. Sri Lanka IN TATTERS here!!

A wicket and just ONE RUN off the over.

Jehan Mubarak comes to the crease for Sri Lanka who desperately NEED A PARTNERSHIP here.

19.4 overs: OUT!! Ravichandran Ashwin has got Lahiru Thirimanne out caught at first slip. Thirimanne leans forward and gets beaten with the spin as the ball takes an outside edge of the bat and goes straight into the hands of Ajinkya Rahane who takes a comfortable catch. Lahiru Thirimanne departs after scoring 13 runs off 38 balls with two boundaries. Ashwin gets his SECOND WICKET!!

NINE RUNS off the over.

16.5 overs: FOUR!! Lahiru Thirimanne leans into the drive and sends it scurrying through covers for a boundary. That was an EXQUISITE SHOT from Thirimanne!!

16.1 overs: FOUR!! Angelo Mathews hangs back and clouts the pull through midwicket for a boundary. CAN'T BOWL THERE to Mathews!!

SIX RUNS off the over.

13.6 overs: FOUR!! Angelo Mathews charges down the wicket and smashes it over midwicket for a blazing boundary. Mathews is TAKING ON Ashwin here!!

Ashwin starts off with a WICKET MAIDEN!!

Skipper Angelo Mathews is out in the middle as Sri Lanka need a bit of a rescue here.

A CHEAP DISMISSAL is not the way Sangakkara would want to bow out of international cricket.

11.3 overs: That's OUT!! Ravichandran Ashwin has got Kumar Sangakkara out caught at silly point. Sangakkara was looking to push the ball off the backfoot but ends up mishitting it straight into the hands of KL Rahul who somehow manages to hold onto it. Kumar Sangakkara departs after scoring five runs off 12 balls. Another BLOW for Lanka!!

First sign of spin, Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack for India. It's Ashwin vs Sanga here!!

FOUR RUNS off the over.

10.4 overs: FOUR!! Lahiru Thirimanne goes for the drive and gets an outside edge that races towards third man region for a boundary. LUCKY ESCAPE for Thirimanne there!!

THREE RUNS off the over.

Kumar Sangakkara walks down the middle as fire crackers go off at Galle.

7.1 overs: OUT!! Varun Aaron has got Kaushal Silva out caught in the slip cordon. Silva was looking to play the hook shot but ends up edging it high in the air as Shikhar Dhawan covers a fair bit of ground to take a good diving catch. Kaushal Silva departs after scoring five runs off 24 balls including a boundary. Aaron STRIKES for India!!

That's a WICKET MAIDEN from Ishant!!

Lahiru Thirimanne comes out in the middle for Sri Lanka.

6.5 overs: That's OUT!! Ishant Sharma has got Dimuth Karunaratne out caught at gully. Karunaratne was tested with the incoming bouncer and he could only manage to give a simple catch to Ajinkya Rahane who doesn't drop those. Dimuth Karunaratne departs after scoring nine runs off 19 balls. Ishant DRAWS FIRST BLOOD for India!!

EIGHT RUNS off the over.

3.4 overs: CATCH-DROPPED!! Shikhar Dhawan has dropped Kaushal Silva at first slip. Silva was looking to cut hard but ends up slicing it towards Dhawan who dropped an absolute sitter. That's GOING TO HURT India!!

3.3 overs: FOUR!! Kaushal Silva rocks back in the crease and flays the cut past backward point for the first boundary in the innings. CRACKING SHOT from Silva!!

Varun Aaron will bowl from the other end for India.

TIDY START by Ishant Sharma, just one run off it!

Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva are out in the middle for Sri Lanka while Ishant Sharma will start the proceedings for India.

Team news:

Virat Kohli-led India opted for five specialist bowling attack and surprised everyone with the inclusion of three spinners in the playing XI for the first Test. The Indian team was forced to leave out in-form Murali Vijay who is nursing a right hamstring injury. The 23-year-old Karnataka cricketer KL Rahul replaced Vijay to partner Shikhar Dhawan at the top for India.

The Angelo Mathews side recalled left-arm spinner Rangana Herath who was dropped for the third Test against Pakistan last month. The Lankans also selected Lahiru Thirimanne ahead of Upul Tharanga for the first Test.

Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first against India.

Teams:

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews (c), Dinesh Chandimal, Jehan Mubarak, Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Tharindu Kaushal