India vs Sri Lanka: Suranga Lakmal rips through hosts' top order as visitors grab control on Day 1 of Kolkata Test

Kolkata: Sri Lanka pacer Suranga Lakmal wrecked the high-profile Indian top-order in overcast conditions to leave the hosts reeling at 17 for three on a rain-affected day one of the first Test in Kolkata on Thursday.

Lakmal's sensational spell, in which he struck thrice without conceding a run in six overs, saw him removing opener KL Rahul off the first ball of the match after play began three and a half hours late due to wet conditions.

His other victims were Shikhar Dhawan (8), who played a loose shot in testing conditions to drag the ball on to his stumps, and India captain Virat Kohli (0), who was trapped in front off a ball that came in sharply.

Sri Lankan players celebrate the dismissal of KL Rahul, who was removed off the first ball of the series. AP

Bad-light and rain led to multiple interruptions before umpires decided to call off the day's play with just 11.5 overs being bowled.

In the second over after tea, skipper Kohli was trapped anticipating an away delivery when the ball sharply cut back in.

Kohli went for the review but was given out on umpire's call to bring his innings to an end on an 11-ball duck.

Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten on eight after playing 43 deliveries in an anxious stay at the crease with Ajinkya Rahane at the other end.

Bad light and rain meant only an hour's play was possible in the day.

The first session was washed away due to drizzle and wet outfield, and the second session began at 1.42 pm as play was possible only for 43 minutes.

The post-tea period began at 3.30 pm and there was no change to India's score in the session but the Lankans added the prized-wicket of Kohli in a 17-minute session.

It was a good toss to win for Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal, who opted to bowl under overcast conditions as Lakmal made full use of the green-tinged surface at the venue.

Relishing the conditions, Lakmal produced an unplayable delivery that pitched on the middle-stump line and went away to take a feather edge off Rahul.

It was an agonising end for Rahul's streak of seven successive fifties. He was picked in the eleven ahead of Murali Vijay but fell to a beauty.

Continuing his dream start, the Lankan new-ball bowler almost cleaned up Pujara with a fuller in-swinger following Rahul's dismissal.

But luckily for the most dependable India batsman, the ball which darted back in went inches above the middle stump.

Touring here for a Test series for the first time since 2009, Sri Lanka have lost 10 matches and drawn six as they search for a maiden win on Indian soil.