Sri Lanka VS India, 1st Test

 

All eyes will be on Virat Kohli who is set to play his 100th Test. © BCCI

The Picture

A new captain, a team sans two stalwarts and a landmark test for the former skipper and this series has all the drama even before a single ball has been bowled. Rohit Sharma has been handed over the baton of leading the Indian test side and  finally is the permanent captain in all formats. He though will be more joyous with the fact that he has been handed down a team that has been beating champion sides at home and away and has become a force to reckon with. The person who led this team to such great heights will himself have a momentous occasion. Virat Kohli will be donning his 100th cap and will be for the first time playing as a specialist batter ever since he took the reins from MS Dhoni in 2014. Virat Kohli has had a fantastic record as both a batsman and a captain and now with him relinquishing captaincy and reaching the three-figure mark in terms of appearances, should give him the freedom and backing to play his natural game. He is yet to score a century since 2019 and his average of 28.15 in the last 15 tests doesn't do justice to the player he is. India will also be without either Pujara and Rahane for the first time since 2012 and that gives chances to the young guns to prove their mettle and show that they are worthy enough for a permanent slot. India will also want to put their WTC status back on track after losing the last series to South Africa. Sri Lanka on the other hand have had a phenomenal time in this WTC cycle and top the table in terms of the standings. Their top 6 batsmen average in excess of 45 since 2020 and their spinners have been magical at home. Suranga Lakmal has been their best bowler in the last couple of years and this series will be his final hurrah. For Sri Lanka the spinners will be the key if they will have to do the unthinkable and pick up 20 Indian wickets. But all eyes will be on Virat Kohli as he becomes the 71st player to transcend 100 appearances and it would only be more special and add to the festivities if he notches his 71st century alongside.

When:  4-8 March 2022, Friday Onwards

Time:    9:30 A.M (IST)

Where: Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali

Team News

Sri Lanka

Dushmantha Chameera has been rested for this game and Kusal Mendis who is in the squad, isn't fit enough to play. Niroshan Dickwella and Lahiru Thirimanne are back into the side and will keep wickets and open respectively. Suranga Lakmal who will be playing his final series is the leader of the pack with Lahiru kumara expected to be the second pacer. Lasith Embuldeniya who has had a great start to his career will be backed up by Praveen Jayawickrama and that will leave Charith Asalanka and Dinesh Chandimal fighting for a lone spot in the eleven.

Probable XI: Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama

India

Two of Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari and Shubman Gill will feature in the team, with Vihari likely at number 3. India are likely to go in with their familiar combination of 3 spinners and 2 quicks. Ravindra Jadeja will be the lead spinner and Ashwin who seems to be fit will be the second spinner and one of Jayant and Kuldeep will be the third with the former more likely thanks to his batting credentials. Jasprit Bumrah would lead the attack with one among the other three pacers partnering him.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jayant Yadav/ Kuldeep Yadav Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj/ Umesh Yadav/ Mohammad Shami

Pitch and Playing Conditions

The Pitch looks like a traditional Indian surface and is on the drier side and will take turn as the game goes on. The conditions are pleasant with cool mornings and warm afternoons and no rain in sight. India have a good record here, only losing a solitary test of the 13 they have featured in.

Interesting Facts

• Dimuth Karunaratne would be playing his 75th match and will be captaining in Sri Lanka's 300th test match

• In 20 previous attempts, Sri Lanka has never won a test match in India.