Kolkata Test: Play on day one called off due to bad light

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], Nov 16 (ANI): The first day of the opening Test of the three-match series between India and Sri Lanka was called off due to bad light, here at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

At stumps, India were at 17-3, with Cheteshwar Pujara (eight) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) batting at the crease.

After being asked to bat first under overcast skies, India made a slow start as openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan were dismissed cheaply for duck and eight respectively.

Skipper Virat Kohli, who came to bat at number three, also walked back to pavilion after he was stumped at zero.

All the three Indian wickets were grabbed by Suranga Lakmal without conceding a single run.

Earlier the Toss was delayed due to wet outfield. The match also saw constant halts due to drizzling.

As the play will resume on Friday, the Virat Kohli-led top Test side would aim to record their 9th straight Test series win.

The islanders, on the other hand, will look to forget the annihilation suffered at home and chase what has been an improbable dream of winning their first Test on Indian soil.

While Kohli's team will use this series against Lanka to prepare for the long series in South Africa next year, Lankans, whose current form has been dismal to say the least, will start as the underdogs.

The hosts had inflicted on the Dinesh Chandimal-led Sri Lanka, a humiliating 9-0 whitewash across three formats even as they rebounded strongly to clinch a surprising 2-0 win over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). (ANI)