Ind vs SL: India totters at 17/3, bad light ends play on Day 1

Kolkata: It was not a kind of start India was expecting from some big names. Thanks to rain and bad light, it was stumps on day 1 after just 11.5 overs in the first Test of the three-match series at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.

With India tottering at 17/3, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were at the crease when the day's game called off due to drizzle and bad light.

Play was stopped for three and a half hours after light drizzle, coupled with wet outfield, forced covers to remain on the field throughout the morning. After a delayed toss, the proceedings had to be halted thrice due to bad light.

Of the 11.5 overs bowled over 60 minutes of play that was possible, the tourists had the hosts on the mat from the word go. At stumps, which was called early due to bad light, India were reeling at 17/3.

Lakmal (3/0) accounted for opener Lokesh Rahul (0) on the very first delivery, also taking the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan (8 off 11; 1x4) and captain Virat Kohli (0 off 11) in a spell of devastating swing bowling courtesy the seam-friendly wicket.

After being to put, India gave Lankans a dream start with KL Rahul's dismissal in the very first delivery of the game. With this golden duck, Rahul's spree of hitting seven consecutive fifties ended.

Rahul added his name in the list of such players who got out in the very first ball of any Test match. The list includes names of Sunil Gavaskar, Sudhir Naik, WV Raman, SS Das and W Jaffer.

At the other end, Dhawan dragged the ball onto his stumps the only time he was brought onto his front foot by Lakmal.

Pujara got his first runs after 21 balls, pushing at a delivery short of good length which went for a four towards the third man boundary.

The conditions were tough to bat even for the in-form and technically sound Saurashtra batsman. He was searching for the ball which nipped back off the deck rather late.

At tea, India were 17/2 with Pujara (8) and Kohli (0) at the crease after only 43 minutes of play.

In the final session, Pujara, who came into the Test scoring a double ton against Jharkhand and 182 versus Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy, was the only batsman who looked to be settling down on a wicket which had a lot of zip.

To a Lahiru Gamage half-volley, Pujara played a classy drive past mid-off before the right-arm fast bowler got back with a gem of a delivery in the next ball that moved in at the batsman.

However, he witnessed his captain Kohli depart after an 11-ball stay, falling plumb to a superb Lakmal delivery which held its line as Kohli played for the outswing. With India ending the day at 17/3, there will be an early start on Friday.

Following is the scoreboard at the end of the opening day of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka.

India 1st Innings:

Lokesh Rahul c Dickwella b Lakmal 0

Shikhar Dhawan b Lakmal 8

Cheteshwar Pujara batting 8

Virat Kohli lbw b Lakmal 0

Extras 1 (b 0, lb 1, w 0, nb 0)

Total 17 (3 wickets, 11.5 Overs)

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Rahul, 0.1 overs), 2-13 (S Dhawan, 6.2), 3-17 (Kohli, 10.1)

Bowling:

Suranga Lakmal 6-6-0-3

Lahiru Gamage 5.5-1-16-0