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Mumbai: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat against India in the third Test at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
India are without in-form opener Gautam Gambhir, maker of four Test hundreds on the trot in as many matches since the March-April tour of New Zealand and seven in his last nine Tests. The Lankans would hope to drive a wedge into the home team's rock-solid top order in the Delhi left-hander's absence, who has opted out to attend his sister's wedding.
Sri Lanka have brought in Nuwan Kulasekera for Ajantha Mendis.
As Test cricket returns to the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium after more than three and a half decades, the hosts are clear favourites to wrap up the rubber with another victory following the landmark 100th win at Kanpur inside four days.
A 2-0 victory margin in the series would take India to the top of the ICC Test rankings table, two points above current number one South Africa.
The visitors need to curb Sehwag at the earliest before the Delhi dasher takes the game away with his audacious shots as he did in Kanpur.
But for this to happen, Sri Lanka would need their ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to lead from the front.
Muralitharan has not made an impact in the series so far and it is his last chance to make a mark in India as he's unlikely to be around when they visit next.
Winning it and piling up a huge score looks to be the best way of applying pressure on the home team's strong batting order boasting of Sehwag, Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj and Dhoni.
The pitch at the Brabourne is a virgin one, having not been used at all this season as the Ranji Trophy tie between Mumbai and Orissa was held on the adjoining track.
It is expected to be a slow turner after giving initial help to the fast bowlers and more importantly the swing bowlers from both teams would get good help from the breeze that wafts across the ground.
