2nd Test: India look to wrap up series against injury-hit Sri Lanka

Yet, the format has yielded its place at the top to the slam-bang version which now fills the international calendar, thanks to increased spectator interest. Day-night Test matches were one of the solutions introduced in 2015 to revive its fortunes. Relatively new, the format has added some zing to the five-day version, since all 18 matches played under lights so far have yielded results. Indeed, one of the flip sides of Test matches under lights is that none of them have been played on all five days. Match No. 19, between India and Sri Lanka, which gets underway at the M Chinnaswamy stadium here on Saturday, could well be another bar in that statistic.

Given that the version is still new, every match is uncharted territory for the players. Both India and Sri Lanka have played three pink-ball Tests each and have achieved similar results. India won two at home and lost to Australia in Adelaide, while Sri Lanka have wins against Pakistan and West Indies. Their lone loss too was against Australia. The previous two pink-ball matches in India were played in different conditions to what one can expect in Bengaluru. In the first against Bangladesh in Kolkata, the pacers called the shots, with the conditions offering swing and seam. In Ahmedabad in February last year, it was the spinners who made merry with Axar Patel (11 wickets) and R Ashwin (7) turning in devastating spells against England. Cut to Bengaluru and there is nothing in it but pride for Sri Lanka. India are up 1-0 in the two-match series after a commanding innings and 222-run victory in Mohali. Sri Lanka were outplayed in the three-match T20 series that preceded the Tests and pride is all that the islanders have left to salvage. India, on the other hand, would