India batted first after Virat Kohli won the toss in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi.
Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay smashed big centuries in a massive 283-run stand to deflate Sri Lanka on the opening day of the third and final test at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday.
The tourists claimed two wickets in the morning session and two more in the final one but it otherwise was a microcosm of a series dominated by the hosts as India scored at more than four runs an over to reach 371 for four 4 at stumps on Day 1.
Kohli remained not out after a majestic 156, which contained 16 fours and followed his 104 not out in the first test in Kolkata and 213 in Nagpur.
The 29-year-old also joined the 5,000-test run club in his 105th innings.
Rohit Sharma was on six at the other end, with the hosts chasing a record-equalling ninth consecutive test series win after Kohli won the toss.
Right-handed opener Lokesh Rahul made way for the left-handed Shikhar Dhawan as India, 1-0 up in the series, shuffled the top of their batting order for a third match in a row. Dhawan could not make the most of the opportunity, though, his attempted sweep shot off Dilruwan Perera finding Suranga Lakmal at deep square leg.
The opener made 23 before becoming the off-spinner's 100th test victim in a Sri Lankan record of 25 tests, two less than spin great Muttiah Muralitharan.
Cheteshwar Pujara hit four boundaries before walking into a Sri Lankan trap.
Paceman Lahiru Gamage stationed Sadeera Samarawickrama at leg slip and bowled the perfect delivery which Pujara tickled to the fielder to depart for 23.
Kohli, however, was simply unstoppable as the right-hander scored at nearly a run a ball, treating the weekend crowd to some exciting shot-making.
Gamage was on the receiving end of Kohli's sublime batting in an eventful 37th over when the batsman hit the bowler for three boundaries - a drive through extra cover, followed by a leg glance and an imperious pull in front of square.
Vijay brought up his 11th test century with a ninth four, celebrating the feat with a little jig. The right-hander, who scored 128 in Nagpur, hit 13 boundaries in his elegant 155 before a lapse in concentration.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan, one of the three new faces in the Sri Lankan team, dismissed Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane stumped in successive overs in the final session.
After winning the toss, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said that he has opted to bat first as he wants his openers to face some challenge.
"Will be something for the bowlers in the first session. Want our openers to have that challenge.Our mindset of preparation has been taken in a wrong way. We don't want to take anything away from our opposition here. Even in South Africa, it won't be about the opposition, but about the conditions," he said.
India chose to go with the opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay as KL Rahul was unfortunate to miss out. While fast bowler Mohammed Shami have been called in place of Umesh Yadav. The duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will take care of the spin bowling attack while Shami will lead the pace attack with Ishant Sharma.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are going with three changes.
Lakshan Sandakan, Roshen Silva and Dhananjaya De Silva are included in the side while Lahiru Thirimanne, Dasun Shanaka and Rangana Herath have all been left out.
Silva has been handed his Test cap and will make his debut for Lanka, while Herath has been ruled out of the Test due to a back injury.
Virat Kohli and his side are yet to lose a Test series at home and they will like to keept the record intact. Sri Lanka, however, would like and break the trend by drawing the series.
Here are the teams:
India XI: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma
Sri Lanka XI: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage
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