N Saini to D Gunathilaka, Another wide! Starts off with a delivery down the leg side, Gunathilaka looks to flick but misses. Pant looks to distract the umpire with an appeal but the umpire already has his hands raised sideways.
Navdeep Saini is introduced into the attack in the third over itself. So just a solitary over for Bumrah first up on his return.
S Thakur to A Fernando, In the air... short! A short one outside off, Fernando is way too early in the pull. It goes off the toe-end but lands safe in the mid on region. A good over from Thakur this.
S Thakur to A Fernando, Does not hit it well this time! Looks to stroke it on the up through the covers but mistimes it towards that position.
S Thakur to A Fernando, WIDE! Errs in line and bowls it down the leg side, Fernando looks to flick but misses. Wided.
S Thakur to A Fernando, FOUR! A lovely punch this! Made use of the pace of the bowler and this shot also shows how good the wicket is. It is a length ball on middle, Avishka pushes it straight down the ground and it races away to the fence.
S Thakur to A Fernando, Another back of a length delivery around off, Fernando stands tall and guides it to point.
S Thakur to A Fernando, On the off pole again, this time Avishka keeps his shape and then guides it to point.
S Thakur to A Fernando, That is a gem to begin with! It has moved away a long way. It initially angles into the off pole but then moves away. Fernando is drawn into playing at it. He does so away from the body and gets beaten. The Indian bowlers are getting good movement up front.
Shardul Thakur to partner Bumrah from the other end.
J Bumrah to D Gunathilaka, A good nut to end too! It is on a length, it lands around off and then goes away with the angle. Gunathilaka has a tentative push at it but gets beaten. So a good comeback by the bowler after going for 6 off the first ball.
J Bumrah to D Gunathilaka, On the fuller side and on middle, Gunathilaka works it to mid on. Bumrah is slowly getting into his groove here, the last two deliveries have been good.
J Bumrah to D Gunathilaka, Gets this one right. It is on middle, DG keeps it out.
J Bumrah to A Fernando, Not such a great delivery that by Bumrah! He looks like a bowler at the moment who is coming back after a period. It is short and outside off, Fernando reaches out for it, he guides it down to third man for one.
J Bumrah to A Fernando, Cracker of a comeback! Also good keeping from Pant. This is shorter and around off, it jags back in sharply. Cuts Fernando into half as he tries to put bat on ball. It keeps moving away as it passes the batter. Pant dives to his left and stops it with one hand.
J Bumrah to A Fernando, FOUR! That has been creamed! Fernando is off the mark with a delightful stroke. It is fuller and on off, Fernando just leans into it and caresses it through covers. You need not run for those.
J Bumrah to D Gunathilaka, Sri Lanka are underway straightaway courtesy an extra! Bumrah does gets some swing into the left-hander but the line is down the leg side. The batter misses the flick. Pant dives to his right and gets a hand to it. It goes towards fine leg for one.
Done and dusted with the national anthems and we are all set to begin! The Indian players are in a huddle, with skipper Virat Kohli having a word with his troops before they take on the field. Danushka Gunathilaka and Avishka Fernando walk out to open the innings for Sri Lanka. The former will take the strike. The returning Jasprit Bumrah to start the proceedings with the new ball for India. How will Bumrah fare on his comeback from his injury?
Both set of players walk out to the middle along with the two match umpires for their respective national anthems. We are not far away from the start of action.
Shreyas Iyer is up for an interview with Laxman Sivaramakrishnan. He says they did not expect rain in the last game but before that they had a good chat about how to go about in the series. Mentions there are two games left now and it is important to go in with an important mind-set. States it is important to not feel lethargic during the game and they need to be at their best. Also tells, He has played quite a few games here and it is important to not be complacent and you need to pace your innings nicely and be the best version of yourself. Ends by saying they have prepared well for the game, the opposition bowlers are really good and they know what they need to do.