Suranga Lakmal
Lakmal removed both the Indian openers on Thursday afternoonIANS

UPDATE: 4:30pm IST: STUMPS! That's it for the day. Bad light and rain has curtailed Day 1 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, November 16.

IND 17/3 in 11.5 overs.

It was a frustrating afternoon for cricket fans as players had been going on and off the field due to overcast conditions.

However, Sri Lanka pacers, espcially Suranga Lakmal, loved the conditions. The right-arm pacer finished the day with figures of 6-6-0-3 as he got all three wickets of the afternoon, including skipper Virat Kohli for 0.

3:10pm IST: Rain has stopped in Kolkata. The covers have been removed off the ground at Eden Gardens. Tea has been taken early as the players and officials wait for the light to improve.

Notably, as per the revised timings, play will close at 5:30pm IST.

2:30pm IST: RAIN DELAY! It's raining again in Kolkata.

After Suranga Lakman had removed openers Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul cheaply in overcast conditions on a green top at the Eden Gardens, players were forced to leave the field due to bad light. There was more disappointment for the crowd as it started pouring down, quite heavily soon after.

IND 17/2 in 8.2 overs.

Cheteshwar Pujara has been able to survive the onslaught from Sri Lankan pacer. He along with captain Virat Kohli is crucial to India's chances of setting a decent score in the first innings.

1:05pm IST: Sri Lanka win toss and opt to bowl first at Eden Gardens. Given the amount of grass on the wicket, it seems to be a good start for the visitors, who are seeking revenge.

Meanwhile, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are back for India after missing recent limited-overs assignments. Virat Kohli is going in with three pacers and five speciallist batsmen.

Team News

India

Playing XI: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami

R Ashwin
R Ashwin is back in the Indian sidePUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images

For a change, it's bowler's paradise

"I think it is the kind of wicket where the ball will do a lot. This is that kind of a wicket where there isn't much difference between the outfield and the centre wicket, which is slightly shaven off. Not going to be easy for the batsmen. The opening bowlers, the new ball bowlers will have a field day. The groundsmen have done a tremendous job despite the rain. You win the toss and bowl first," says Sunil Gavaskar and Simon Doull at the pitch report.

12:30pm IST: There is no rain at the Eden Gardens. The groundstaff are doing their best to get the ground ready for some action. Next inspection at 12:45pm IST. Meanwhile, the Lunch was taken earlier.

11:25am IST: Time for some cricket? Rain has completely stopped in Kolkata. The pictures from Eden Gardens are heartening as the groundsmen have removed the covers off the ground. Only the pitch remains under cover now.

10:05am IST: Not good news now! It has started to drizzle again. And the groundsmen have quickly put the covers back on. The wait continues...

9:45am IST - Good news! Rain (drizzle) stops in Kolkata. Groundsmen are getting ready to do their job as it has become brighter than earlier. (Watch the match live here)

While you wait for the action to begin, check out what Virat Kohli has to say about OVERDOSE of India vs Sri Lanka cricket.

Both teams are looking set for the first of the three-match Test series, but the rain gods want them to wait. It had rained cats and gods in Kolkata yesterday and a steady drizzle in the morning has made sure there is a delay in start of play.

While there has been a lot of talk about the upcoming three-match Test series lacking context, especially after "overdose" of cricket between India and Sri Lanka, the hosts will look to make use of the series to get them prepared for the upcoming tour to South Africa.

The number one-ranked Test side are, no doubt, a settled unit, but the likes of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja should be more than happy to get some match time after missing limited-overs commitments against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand over the last two months.

Also, Tamil Nadu opener Murali Vijay will look to cement his spot at the top of the batting order ahead of the testing trip to South Africa as Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul are also fighting for the two opening slots.