Published on 12:00 AM, July 26, 2017

India come full circle

First Test against Sri Lanka starts today

India captain Virat Kohli. File Photo: Reuters

Two years ago Virat Kohli's India started a series in Sri Lanka as the team almost anyone could beat, on Wednesday they take to the field in Galle as the team to beat.

India may have been nervous last time, but now Kohli says the side has come full circle with "no massive areas of concern".

Two years ago, India had not won a series in seven attempts. They lost the opening Galle Test and it was an electro-shock. They won that series 2-1.

India have since been embroiled in near chaos off the field -- the governing body put under Supreme Court administration and a coach forced out by clashes with the captain -- but near domination in competition: 13 Tests played, 10 won, two drawn and just one defeat.

Kohli said Tuesday that he wants a definitive end to the drama over the departure of Anil Kumble as coach and a winning start to the new era with Ravi Shastri.

"We have spoken enough about these issues and it is something that we are not focusing on at all now," the skipper said.

"We are just looking forward to the cricket now and in this series to showcase our skills and have consistent performances, which we have had as a side ever since we started our climb back in the rankings."

Kohli said Sri Lanka can expect a different start and that India can dominate Tests for years to come. They are expected to defend their top Test ranking in South Africa, England and Australia in the next year.

"It's pretty different sitting here two years after that particular series," Kohli said of the last Sri Lanka games.

Those Tests were "very important in us coming together as a team in believing that we can win a series and not just matches. So that was the beginning of that mindset."