Nagpur strip has been a heaven for the spin bowlers, as the spinners had picked up the bulk of wickets when India last played here against South Africa in 2015.
Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal, who went in with the same team, chose to bat first after winning the toss keeping in mind it will be tough for the batters in the fourth innings.
India made three changes from the first Test with Murali Vijay coming in for Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar making way for Rohit Sharma, and Ishant Sharma replaced Mohammad Shami, who misses out with a niggle.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dimuth Karunaratne opened the innings for the visiting Sri Lankan team; however, the new ball got shared by Umesh Yadav, who was playing his first Test at the home ground and Ishant Sharma.
Sri Lankan openers started off well hitting two boundaries in the first two overs and were looking confident in front of the Indian seamers. However, in the fifth over of the match, Cheteshwar Pujara dived forward and grasped one off Ishant Sharma at the slips. The little seam movement of the pitch has done the trick, and Samarawickrama (13) was back into the hut leaving Sri Lanka at 20 for one.
Dimuth Karunaratne and experienced Lahiru Thirimanne, who was promoted up the order then steadied the Sri Lankan innings, as they looked calm and composed trying to build a long partnership.
However, Thirimanne lost his patience when he tried to sweep one of a lofted delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin and completely misses it. It marks the first wicket for the Indian spinners in this series, as Ashwin deserves it.
Sri Lanka went into the lunch with 47 for two, as Karunaratne (21*) and Angelo Matthews (1*) were out there in the middle. India, who finished on a high after picking the wicket of Thirimanne will like to capitalise on it and take some more wickets.
Here is how Twitter reacted on the first day of the second Test:
Interesting that India have gone away from the five bowlers route. Want Rohit Sharma to get game time. That means 6 batsmen could be the way in South Africa
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 24, 2017
Ashwin has been bowling economically throughout. Thirimanne sweeps and misses. Bowled. 1st wicket for an Indian spinner this series. #INDvsSL
— Sports Sutra ?? (@SpoSutra) November 24, 2017
Pujara looking like Gundappa Viswanath in gait and with the new mustache. #IndVsSL
— Sankara Subramanian (@rsankaras) November 24, 2017
Iam requesting to @BCCI please avoid the series in future with Srilanka because people boring with #INDvSL too much cricket.#INDvsSL
— Ram Reddy (@ramreddy485) November 24, 2017
That was a excellent catch in the slips by @cheteshwar1 #INDvsSL …
— Satish (@scg11) November 24, 2017
This is clearly not a pitch for fast bowlers on day 1.. think of all the talks before the game that went to Nagpur curator and he said shut up. #INDvsSL
— KASHISH (@crickashish217) November 24, 2017
Brief Score: Sri Lanka 47/2 (Samarawickrama 13, Karunaratne 21*) India: Ashwin 10/1 Ishant:19/1.