After 22 years India have chance to seal series in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Virat Kohli and his team have the opportunity to grab a piece of historical pie over the next five days if they can defeat Sri Lanka and win a Test series on these shores after 22 years.
The 'number 22' debate has been raging since the series got under way almost three weeks back and the Indian team finally has the opportunity to putting the discussion to bed.They have the Lankans in a corner after the massive 278-run win in the second Test at the P Sara Oval.
Kohli and Co. have been the dominant team in the series by a mile but have paid a heavy price for a slip-up in the first Test in Galle. There is no scope for another such mistake.
The hosts, meanwhile, are a rattled and disjointed bunch, especially after the departure of Kumar Sangakkara. Angelo Mathews is looking at no less than four changes to the playing XI. Upul Tharanga will, of course, replace the retired Sanga. Now that paceman Nuwan Pradeep is fit, it remains to be seen if he gets the nod ahead of the pacy but erratic Dushmantha Chameera.
The big blow for Lanka is a finger injury to off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal, who was struck on the hand by Umesh Yadav in the second innings of the second Test. If Kaushal doesn't get fit, he'll be replaced by Dilruwan Perera. Kushal Perera might also be handed his first Test cap at the expense of Jehan Mubarak, if the team management decides to relieve in-form batsman Dinesh Chandimal of the 'keeping gloves.
"All of this has been taken into consideration. We've talked about it, but we haven't taken a final decision. The coach and I will meet the selectors in the evening," Mathews said here on Thursday.
India will also be forced to bring in Cheteshwar Pujara and Naman Ojha due to injuries to Murali Vijay and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. In spite of the two changes, India look the more settled of the two sides. Opener KL Rahul repaid the team's faith with a century at the P Sara Oval while Ajinkya Rahane made the No. 3 slot his own with a century in the second essay. Rohit Sharma also appears secure at No. 5 with a half-century in the last match.
The SSC track is a dilemma since it has been recently relaid. Till Thursday afternoon, the 22 yards had a good covering of grass but it is considered to be dry underneath. It is expected that some grass cover will be there for the match to bind the track in this dry weather.
The grass should provide some assistance to the seamers in the first couple of session and Indian batsmen were hard at work preparing for an early pace exam. Even Rohit Sharma took to bowling medium pace in the nets on Thursday. Kohli and Co. must believe this is their best chance to win a rare overseas series, the pressure of the '22-year itch' notwithstanding.
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