India, Aug. 17 -- KL Rahul made a little shimmy to reach the ball, unfurled his wrist and executed a picture-perfect cover drive, leaving Prabath Jayasuriya smiling wistfully on the opening day of the first Test here.

It was a personal statement of his authority over Sri Lanka's premier bowler.

But it also reflected India's newfound confidence against tweakers after setbacks at home against New Zealand and South African slow bowlers dimmed their aura. In a way, it was in the fitness of things that the senior-most batter in this Indian team took it upon himself the task of stonewalling the Lankan spinners. But Rahul went through extensive preparations before crossing the Palk Strait at the Wings Sports Centre in Mumbai, managed by former...