The visitors won the three-Test series by a comfortable 3-0 margin and will look to take that momentum into the limited-overs' leg of the tour as well.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya's 96-ball knock of 108 has seen him gain 45 positions to reach a career-best 68th rank among batsmen.

The chief selector laid down the marker for 2019, outlining a new selection policy based on fitness.

Dhawan added a record 188 runs for the opening stand with KL Rahul, which is an Indian record.

After the day's play, Rahul said that the knowledge that his place in the playing eleven is secure - as Kohli had put it in the pre-match interaction- helps him during his repeated recovery phases.

Rahane hit an unbeaten 103 alongside Cheteshwar Pujara (128 batting) added 211 runs for the fourth wicket to pile up an imposing 344 for 3 at stumps.

Second choice opener Abhinav Mukund has kept himself in the hunt with a gritty 81 in the second innings of the first Test in Galle.

The underlining aspect of this new thought process from coach Shastri is his belief that the team should exert its number one status on the field.

Team India members were seen chilling out and having some down time after their emphatic victory over Sri Lanka in the opening Test of the three-match series at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday.

In KL Rahul's absence, Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund are likely to open for India.

Rahul had to stay back in Colombo for observation because of high fever even though the rest of the squad traveled South on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Rahul cracked a half century in his first outing - a two-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka Board President's XI. He said it was tough staying away from cricket for long.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha was unbeaten on 36 while all-rounder Hardik Pandya could manage 11 runs before both the teams decided to wrap up the proceedings.

The hosts were comfortably placed at 139 for one, thanks to the second wicket stand from opener Danushka Gunathilaka (74) and Lahiru Thirimanne (59) before collapsing to 187 all out.

For Shastri, it's the island nation is like a second home as he first came here nearly four decades back as gangly 18-year old with the junior team.

The national selectors specifically rested Rohit for the West Indies tour in order to keep him fresh for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.

India opener KL Rahul told India TV that captain Virat Kohli gives a lot of freedom to his players which allows them to be aggressive and expressive on the field.

Coming back from a four-month layoff after a shoulder injury, the Karnataka-born batsman has been named in India's 15-member Test squad for Sri Lanka tour which starts on July 26 in Galle.

Opener KL Rahul feels it shouldn't be much of a task for India to beat Bangladesh in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

Indian opener Lokesh Rahul on Sunday said he was disappointed at not being able to capitalise upon the good starts into big score.