India's 9-0 clean sweep of Sri Lanka across all three formats recently, hangs heavy before the launch of another nine-match engagement between the two teams. With the first of three Tests beginning here tomorrow, both teams will want to put the past behind them as quickly as possible. The visitors have their obvious reasons, but India too have a great deal at stake. "For us, every match and series is important before going to South Africa, but we are focussing on this series right now," Ajinkya Rahane said before nets at the Eden Gardens yesterday, providing a peep into 'preparations' for the big tour even as he spelt out the 'one match at time' philosophy that teams have come to embrace these days.

Virat Kohli & Co. sit atop the ICC Test rankings and they will want to keep it that way before facing the No. 2 team in their backyard. The tour to South Africa comes immediately after the Lanka series, and Team India will want to carry the momentum from here. "They have been preparing really well and we don't want to be taking them lightly. We just want to think about our game rather than thinking about their combination or their strengths," Rahane added, almost as if warning against complacency.