India’s captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday.

India, looking to level the three-match series after losing the first Test in Galle by 63 runs, made three changes to their team.

Opener Murali Vijay replaced the injured Shikhar Dhawan, while all-rounder Stuart Binny and fast bowler Umesh Yadav came in for off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and paceman Varun Aaron.

Sri Lanka brought in fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera in place of the injured Nuwan Pradeep for batting great Kumar Sangakkara’s last Test.

Groundstaff rushed to cover the pitch as light rain began to fall just before the start of play.

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Stuart Binny, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Jehan Mubarak, Rangana Herath, Tharindu Kaushal, Dhammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera.