Buoyed by a strong run in Test cricket over the last year at home and overseas, the Indians approach every challenge these days believing nothing is impossible.

They haven't had things going all their way during that period -- the massive MCG loss to Australia and the even more damning drubbing by South Africa in Ahmedabad, in case proof is needed -- but the positives have outweighed the negatives, which is why there is every reason to believe India are well equipped to end their 15-year drought and win a Test series in Sri Lanka this time around.

Fickle weather and a formidable opposition in the shape of a Jehan Mubarak-led Sri Lanka Board XI in a three-day game beginning at the Nondescript Cricket Club ground on Friday will attempt to put a spanner in the works so far as India fine-tuning their preparations for the Test series is concerned. Little as they can do about the weather, the Indians will welcome the quality of the Board XI outfit in their only hit out before serious business comes calling next week.

Force at home

The eleven India put out on the morrow will be as close to the Test eleven, all other things being equal, as you can get. Consequently, the Indians will not have lost sight of the fact that they must all start to pull together in the same direction if the Sri Lankan lions, a formidable force on home turf, is to be bearded in its own den.

The likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly amongst the batsmen, stumper Dinesh Kaarthick, the skipper himself, his spin twin Harbhajan Singh and a fit-again Zaheer Khan have had precious little cricket in the last month and a half, for reasons ranging from injury, fitness, one-day retirement, superfluous to the one-day scheme of things and a ban following slapgate. All are crucial to India's Test fortunes; consequently, they will try to optimise the gains that can be accrued from three match-days.

Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have opened so often for the Delhi Daredevils and for India in the last two and a half months that it can be easy to forget that at the Test level, they are still an untested combination. The stylish left-hander and the bruising right-hander share an excellent rapport -- not surprising, given they also play for the same state -- and a lot of the efficacy of the middle-order will depend on the kind of start the two openers provide.

Against a strong Board XI pace attack manned by the likes of Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welagedera and Sujeewa Silva, the opening tandem will get the first taste of things to follow. Indeed, where the Indians are looking for match-time, several in the Board XI are targeting catching the attention of the selectors, not least Mubarak himself, who toured the West Indies in March-April and was at the Asia Cup, but didn't so much as merit a look-in.

Strong batting

A strong batting line-up that includes, among others, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva and Chamara Kapugedera -- all conspicuous by their absence at nets on Thursday morning -- should provide just the work-out Zaheer, Ishant Sharma, Kumble and Harbhajan will require as they gear up for sterner contests, come the Tests.

The weather -- it dawned dull, gloomy and gray on Thursday before the sun beat down in all its glory by mid-afternoon -- will not cost the Indians too much sleep, nor will the prospect of a scrap before the real fight, either. We did say something about confidence, didn't we?!

Teams (from):
Sri Lanka Board XI: Jehan Mubarak (capt), Mahela Udawatte, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Thilina Kandamby, Kaushal Silva, Chanaka Welagedera, Sujeewa Silva, Dammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando. Reserves: Tharanga Paranavitana, Sachithra Senanayake.
Indians: Anil Kumble (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Dinesh Kaarthick, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel, Rohit Sharma, Parthiv Patel.
Hours of play: 1015-1215 hours, 1255-1455 hours and 1515-end of play.