Lokesh Rahul closed in on a century as India moved to 206-3 by tea on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Thursday.

Rahul was unbeaten on 98, having shared a third-wicket stand of 164 with skipper Virat Kohli (78) after the tourists had slumped to 12-2 by the fifth over of the match.

Kohli was dismissed late in the post-lunch session, caught low at first slip by his Sri Lankan counterpart Angelo Mathews as he went to cut left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Rohit Sharma was the other batsman at the crease on 17 in a match India must win to level the three-match series. Sri Lanka won the first Test in Galle by 63 runs.

The 23-year-old Rahul, who hit a century against Australia in Sydney in only his second Test earlier this year, made amends for scores of seven and five at Galle with delightful strokeplay.

Rahul, dropped at gully by Jehan Mubarak off Dushmantha Chameera when he was on 11, has so far hit 12 boundaries and a six.

Kohli smashed eight fours and a six before he was out against the run of play, but Rohit Sharma continued India's aggressive intent with a six and four in one Herath over.   

About 6,000 home fans at the P. Sara Oval applauded as Sri Lanka's batting great Kumar Sangakkara was welcomed onto the field in his last Test with a guard of honour by young children holding raised bats.

Opener Murali Vijay, who replaced the injured Shikhar Dhawan in one of the three changes made by India, was trapped leg-before by Dhammika Prasad off the fourth ball of the innings before he had scored.

Prasad struck again in his third over when Ajinkya Rahane drove at a wide ball and edged an easy catch to Dimuth Karunaratne at third slip.

Besides bringing in Vijay, India also included all-rounder Stuart Binny and fast bowler Umesh Yadav in place of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and paceman Varun Aaron.

Sri Lanka dropped the injured Nuwan Pradeep to play young fast bowler Chameera.
Source: AFP