KEY CLASHES

India will face Sri Lanka in a Test series at home after almost eight years, and the opening contest at Kolkata will be their first against the island nation at Eden Gardens. HT picks the five best clashes from the 17 Tests played in India

A match of firsts

India played their maiden Test against Sri Lanka in September 1982 at the Chidambaram Stadium. Duleep Mendis (105 and 105) scored centuries while Dilip Doshi had a five-for in the first innings. Sunil Gavaskar (155) and Sandeep Patil (114) shone in the first essay, but Asantha de Mel’s 5/68 in the second innings ensured a draw.

Kumble helps India win

After centuries from Navjot Singh Sidhu (124) and Sachin Tendulkar (142) propelled India to 511 after batting first at Lucknow in January 1994, Anil Kumble claimed 4 for 69 to help India impose a follow-on, and 7 for 59 in the second innings to script a massive win by an innings and 119 runs.

Kumble vs Muralitharan

In an intense battle at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi, Anil Kumble helped India seal victory by 188 runs. Up against Muthiah Muralitharan’s 7 for 100, which restricted India to 290 in the first innings, Kumble produced spells of 6 for 72 and 4 for 85 to record another 10-wicket haul, in December 2005.

Lanka come to the party

After India got 426 at Ahmedabad in November 2009, Lanka showed their might. Kumar Sangakkara (31) may have missed out with a moderate score, but Mahela Jayawardene’s 275 and Prasanna Jayawardene’s 154 powered Lanka to 760/7 declared — the highest score by a visiting team in India. The match was a draw.

Sehwag slays Sri Lanka

The visitors scored a first innings 393 in the last Test at Brabourne (December 2009), but Virender Sehwag stroked his way to 293 off just 254 balls before Muralitharan ended the carnage. Sehwag hit 40 fours and seven sixes but fell short of his third triple century. He took India to 726/9 declared, and a win by an innings and 24 runs.