India vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test preview: Kohli's men have a chance to create history

Kandy, August 11: Virat Kohli and his men stand on the cusp of history, aiming to become the first Indian team to complete a whitewash in an overseas three-Test series when they meet a below-par Sri Lanka in the third and final match, starting in Kandy on Saturday (August 12).

India have won the first two Tests by comprehensive margins - 304 runs in Galle and an innings and 53 runs in Colombo.

The island nation, which has been going through a transition phase, has decided to roll-out a green top with an aim to salvage some pride from the inconsequential game. Their saving grace could be inclement weather after a spell of showers led to India's practice session being cancelled on Friday (August 11).

By including pacers Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Gamage in their squad, replacing the injured duo of Nuwan Pradeep and Rangana Herath, the Lankans are aiming to strike back with pace.

The nature of the pitch may prompt Kohli to play his third specialist seamer in Bhuvneshwar Kumar in place of the suspended Ravindra Jadeja. However, there is a possibility that Bhuvneshwar, with his decent batting ability, may replace Hardik Pandya with chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav playing as the second spinner with Ashwin.

How big a 3-0 series win will be is debatable considering the quality of the opposition. But considering that India have never won a full Test series, 85 years since their debut in 1932, it will be praiseworthy if they go on to win the final Test of the series.

Under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India outplayed Australia 4-0 in the 2013 home series while Kohli led the side during the 3-0 rout of New Zealand, last year.

A win in the third Test will also strengthen chief coach Ravi Shastri's claim that "this team is capable of breaking new ground."

It will be interesting if team management decides to shuffle the combination now that they have won the series. The team management may think of giving Abhinav Mukund another chance while Rohit Sharma is still waiting to play his first Test since October.

Teams: India: Virat Kohli (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Axar Patel.|
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (Capt), Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjay de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, Malinda Pushpakumara.
Live on: SonyTen; Match starts at: 10 am IST.