India elect to field in first SL ODI

India captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to field in the opening one-day international against Sri Lanka in Kolkata on Thursday.

• Scorecard

The hosts opted for a bowling attack of three seamers and specialist off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on a firm Eden Gardens pitch, with experienced leg-spinner Anil Kumble missing out.

Medium pacers Irfan Pathan (shoulder) and Ajit Agarkar (flu) have also been rested.

Batsman Virender Sehwag returns to the side after missing last month's one-day series against the West Indies because of poor form.

Sri Lanka

The four-match series represents a final chance for both teams to prepare for next month's World Cup.

Teams:

India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Sourav Ganguly, Robin Uthappa, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Dhoni, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Zoysa, Russel Arnold and Malinga Bandara.