Sri Lanka go into the second Test against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Saturday with morale high after gaining a psychological advantage in the previous match.
Bowling out Rahul Dravid-led India for a meagre 167 in a truncated drawn opening Test in Chennai helped the tourists regain confidence after a 6-1 drubbing in a one-day series against the hosts last month.
"Bowling them out for such a low score was definitely satisfying, even if the pitch was not very good for batting," Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu said ahead of the second Test.
"It was a much-needed start for us and now I do not want to recall what happenned one month ago," said Atapattu, whose side finished at 168-4 when play was called off in the Chennai match.
"We have a lot of plans for the Tests and hope to implement them well in the coming matches," he added. "Interest in the series has only gone up because of the drawn match."
Sri Lanka have yet to play at this venue, which has been one of India's favourite grounds in recent years as the hosts have won their last five Tests here.
Sri Lanka, looking for their first Test win in India, would be hoping for their star bowlers Chaminda Vaas and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to deliver.
Vaas rattled the Indian batting line-up in Chennai with four wickets and would have much to look forward to with the groundsman predicting help for seam bowling.
"It will be a sporting wicket with help for seamers early on and something in it for spinners as the much progresses," said Prabir Mukherjee.
Experienced Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who bagged all 10 wickets in a Test innings here to carve an epic triumph over Pakistan in 1999, felt the team's batting debacle in Chennai did not matter.
"You should not read too much into what happened in the first Test. Usually you get bounce on the Chennai track but this time the ball kept low," said Kumble.
"I have fond memories of playing here. It is not that the team expects you to go out and get all 10 wickets again but there is definitely more confidence and responsibility for me.
"I hope the team does well and I play an important part in it."
Kumble, who is just two short of 100 Test appearances, felt the absence of opener Sanath Jayasuriya from the Sri Lankan batting line-up could make a big difference.
"Obviously Jayasuriya will be missed by them because of his experience. But Test cricket is hard and whoever is playing in Tests has to be respected," he said.
Jayasuriya, 36, a veteran of 100 Tests, was dropped as he had problems with form and fitness and could manage just 85 in six outings during the one-day series in India.
THE TEAMS (FROM):
INDIA: Rahul Dravid (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Anil Kumble, Rudra Pratap Singh.
SRI LANKA: Marvan Atapattu (capt), Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Avishka Gunawardene, Lasith Malinga, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Malinga Bandara.
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