India were 37/1 after the end of 10 overs. Earlier, Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss and decided to field first against India.
Sri Lanka brought in an extra spinner, Ajantha Mendis, in place of seamer Suranga Lakmal. India also made one change, dropping fast bowler Varun Aaron to play all-rounder Stuart Binny.
India notched up a six-wicket win against hosts Bangladesh in their opening match of the five-nation regional tournament on Wednesday but their real test begins against the Lankans who had beaten defending champions Pakistan by 12 runs.
Back on the familiar sub-continental conditions after humiliating series defeats in South Africa and New Zealand, India chased down 280 at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium to register their first win in nine ODIs.
Skipper Kohli smashed a 122-ball 136 in a 213-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane who returned to ODI form with a 73 to hand India a perfect start to their Asia Cup campaign.
Kohli's tremendous form in Bangladesh which now reads 868 runs from 10 matches with an astounding average of 124, including his career-best 183 in last Asia Cup, will put India a favourite to win the tournament despite recent overseas reverses.
Having arrived in the country late January for a full series, Sri Lanka have been experiencing an extended taste of Bangladeshi conditions as they won the Test series 1-0, the Twenty20s 2-0 before a 3-0 sweep in the one-dayers.
But in their Asia Cup opener on Wednesday, Sri Lanka had some jittery moments when Pakistan looked to be in control of the 297-run chase, needing 55 from 46 balls with six wickets in hand.
It was, however, before Malinga single-handedly changed the complexion of the game with his toe-crushing yorkers. He went for six-plus an over after his first seven overs but came back with four wickets in his last three overs to turn the game in his side's favour in the death overs.
But his inability to trouble the top-order would once again come under scrutiny as he takes on the Indian batsmen.
Sri Lankan batting will have the calming influence of Sangakkara who is in the middle of a dream run that includes his maiden triple century in Tests.
Sangakkara scored a half-century against Pakistan but it was their young opener Thirimanne who impressed with a fluent century. Thirimanne has been backed by the selectors to open instead of senior-most Mahela Jayawardene.
Teams:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Stuart Binny.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Sachithra Senanayake, Chaturanga de Silva.
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