India’s Test tours of Sri Lanka have tended to come in fits and starts over the last quarter of a century. A long gap after the 2001 series was followed by outings in 2008 and 2010; then came two tours in three years, between 2015 and 2017, both of which India won handsomely.

Now, nine years after their last dance in the Emerald Isle, India are hopeful that this latest two-Test series, starting on Saturday at the beautiful Galle International Stadium, will herald their resurgence in the five-day game. It will mark the 50th Test at this ground, making it the first centre in Asia to achieve that milestone.