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It will also brighten their chances of moving up in the World Test Championship table.

For that, they need to win the second Test against Sri Lanka, which begins at the SSC in Colombo on Sunday. Having won the opener in Galle, India will be confident, though head coach Gautam Gambhir doesn't wish to rest on the team's laurels. The sapping heat will add to the demands, but India will be in a better frame of mind.

Gambhir isn't bothered by the "outside noise" and the brickbats hurled at him following the debacle at home against South Africa, saying his focus firmly remains on "winning trophies for India".

"Criticism? My job is to win trophies. That's all I believe in and care for. That is the difference between me and everyone. I don't care about views or likes," Gambhir said at a news conference on Saturday.

India are placed fifth in the World Test Championship table behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh. "Rankings do not matter. We are not struggling. Since the England tour, we have played reasonable Test cricket," Gambhir said.

Kuldeep debate

India are toying with the idea of playing off-spinner Saransh Jain in place of wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, especially considering the presence of several left-handers in the Lankan line-up.

Gambhir said that the team management rates Kuldeep "very highly", and that he is not being judged just by the number of wickets.

"Look, ultimately we know how good a bowler Kuldeep is," Gambhir said. "And more importantly, sometimes it's up to the captain as well, where he feels that if his two other spinners can get him wickets looking in those conditions, what pace he wants a certain spinner to bowl.

"It's not about guys under-bowling. It's about getting the result. For me, I think that is more important... We will try to field the best bowling attack that can get us 20 wickets," Gambhir said.

3-match series

Gambhir made it clear that he always prefers a three-match series since it allows the teams a level playing field.

"Ideally, I would want a three-Test series. I've always believed that there should always be a possibility that a team that loses in the first Test should have the chance to come back," Gambhir said.