Opener Cheteshwar Pujara scored a brilliant ton under tremendous pressure to help India reach 292 for eight before rain called off play on the second day of the decisive third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday.
Earlier, Sri Lankan pacer Dhammika Prasad made inroads into the much vaunted Indian batting line-up, capturing four wickets for 83, ensuring that Sri Lanka did not lose the advantage of bowling first on a seaming pitch at the SSC.
Resuming at the overnight score of 50-2, the tourists endured a grim morning session as they lost wickets at crucial moments and were reeling at 180-7 before Pujara found an able ally in Amit Mishra (59).
The duo scored a crucial 104-run partnership for the eighth wicket, with Pujara showing exemplary discipline in scoring his seventh hundred and the first since December 2013.
Pujara was unbeaten on 135, with Ishant Sharma (2) on the crease before rain brought a premature end to the day's play.
Prasad claimed the wickets of K L Rahul (2), Rohit Sharma (26), Stuart Binny (0) and Ravichandran Ashwin (5).
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Earlier, captain Virat Kohli failed to convert good start into big innings as he was dismissed for 18 by his Sri Lankan counterpart Angelo Mathews.
The three-match Test series is levelled at 1-1 after India claimed a 278-run win in the second match at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.
Sri Lanka won the opening Test match in Galle by 63 runs.