MS Dhoni and his men would have to switch into the Test mode from the more frenetic one-day frame of mind when they go into the first Test at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera.
India will look to put behind the disappointment of their one-day drubbing at the hands of Australia and bounce back to winning ways when they take on Sri Lanka in the first match of a three-Test series starting here tomorrow.
For this to happen, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men would have to switch into the Test mode from the more frenetic one-day frame of mind when they go into the first Test at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera.
The Indian team has had a non-stop dish of limited-over cricket, 50-over and Twenty20, over the last six months and played their last Test series against New Zealand in March-April early this year.
The Indian middle order has been bolstered by the return of Test specialists Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who were not part of the squad that lost to Australia after squandering a 2-1 lead by losing the next three matches in-a-row.
Both Dravid and Laxman, especially the former, are coming into the match on the back of some good displays in the Ranji Trophy and would be eager to hit the straps.
The Indian top order functioned in fits and starts in the one-day rubber against the Aussies with swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag playing all-too-brief cameos. The home team would be looking forward to the Delhi dasher taming the vastly inexperienced Sri Lanka bowling with his partner Gautam Gambhir.
The match also is a landmark for Sachin Tendulkar as he steps into his 21st year in international cricket.
With a strong sense of history he would be keen as ever to make the Test another occasion to remember.
Incidentally, it was at this ground that Sunil Gavaskar became the first man to complete 10,000 Test runs against Pakistan in March, 1987 and Kapil Dev overhauled Richard Hadlee's record to become the highest wicket taker in Tests against Sri Lanka in February, 1994.
The return of the experienced Zaheer Khan from a five-month injury lay-off has also boosted India's hopes against the Lankans who are determined to set right their winless Test record in this country in 14 previous attempts, that includes eight defeats.
Khan has showed he has recovered well from his shoulder injury by bowling long spells in Ranji Trophy for Mumbai and also taking wickets.
His presence should also boost the confidence of Ishant Sharma who did not have the guidance of the experienced left-arm pacer for a long time and has seen his form dip.
The presence of S Sreesanth, recalled to the team for the first time since April, 2008, as the third seamer in the squad would also perk up the gangling Sharma, who is expected to share the new ball with Khan in the series opener.
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