India would set sail for Sri Lanka to play Test matches after seven years and by the reckoning of history would be favourites.

Though the then captain Sourav Ganguly's team lost a closely fought series in 2001, India have always had the edge over Sri Lanka.

Out of 26 Tests played between the two countries, India have won 10, lost three, while 13 have ended in stale mates.

However what could be worrying the Indian captain Anil Kumble and coah Gary Kirtsen is that all three of those losses have been inflicted in Sri Lanka, the last two coming India's way on their last tour in 2001 and rather crushing ones, if on may add.

India have always dominated the Lankans at home, winning eight of 14 Tests played in India, with the other six ending in draws.

Besides losing three Test matches in Sri Lanka, India have won two, while seven failed to produce any results. So what would make the difference between the two teams this time?

It could well be the Indian batting.

Both teams would set up classy spin attacks. If Sri Lanka boast of Muttiah Muralitharan and new kid on the blocks, Ajantha Mendis, India would flip up the ever reliable Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, a dangerous off spinner who not only gets the ball to turn but generates vicious bounce off the surface.

Batsmen from both sides might spend sleepless nights pondering over the opposition spin attack. This is where India would hold the edge. With the holy trinity of Indian batting, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman back for the longer version, Mendis might find out bowling is not that fun. Ganguly has already stressed he wants to read the "mystery spinner" off the hands and not wait to see it off the surface.

Dravid might want to play very late and that is what India's ODI skipper MS Dhoni did in the final of the STAR Cricket Asia Cup, looking like the only batsman who was at ease with the world even when Mendis was tweaking it around.

So one might just wonder if the records of the past would matter much as the two great nations, so rich on their cricketing glory set out for a royal battle.

This time, this things could well be different. There might not be any more of those high scoring draws. The Indian batting this time is far stronger this time unlike seven years back when Tendulkar had to miss out thanks to injury.

The current team, besides boasting of a deadly middle order has the most dangerous opening combination in the world in Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

And as for the wicketkeeping options, though Dhoni might have opted out citing fatigue, Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik, the two options India have are more than handy.

Both have improved their skills behind the stumps and are competent batsmen. So all is set for the Indian team to paint Lanka yellow, with or without Chaminda Vaas, Murali and the man they call Mendis, Ajantha Mendis.