Colombo, July 23 : Due to overnight rain in Colombo, the first Test match between India and Sri Lanka has been delayed.

The match is being played at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground from today.

India has to play three Tests and five one-day International matches during its tour of the island nation.

Indians had lost a three-match Test series 2-1 on their last Test tour of Sri Lanka in 2001.

Sri Lanka have also beaten South Africa, England, the West Indies and Bangladesh at home in the past four years.

They have lost just one of their 16 home Tests since August 2004, the lone defeat coming against Pakistan at Kandy two years ago.

Indians are aware that the Lankans will be a formidable force at home and it will need an extraordinary effort to beat them and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

ANI