IND vs SL, 1st Test: Match preview, stats, and more
India and Sri Lanka are set to take on each other in the first Test in Mohali, starting March 4. The hosts are unbeaten against Sri Lanka this year so far, having beaten them 3-0 in the three-match T20I series. Rohit Sharma will play his first Test as India's full-time captain. Meanwhile, it will be Virat Kohli's 100th Test. Here is the match preview.
Key details about the match
The PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali will host the 1st Test. It will begin at 9:30 AM IST. The wicket here favors the batters as they can play on the up. While seamers garner extra bounce, spin comes into play eventually. One can watch the game live on the Star Sports Network and stream the same on the Hotstar app (paid subscription).
A look at the head-to-head record
The two teams have met in 44 Tests, with India winning 20 of them. While Sri Lanka have won seven, as many as 17 matches resulted in a draw. Interestingly, India are unbeaten at home against Sri Lanka in red-ball cricket. They have won 11 matches at home, while nine have been drawn. Sri Lanka last won a Test series against India in 2008.
Rohit will lead a revamped Team India
Rohit Sharma, who is set to lead India, will open the innings alongside either Mayank Agarwal or Shubman Gill. Shreyas Iyer will certainly feature in the revamped batting order. It remains to be seen if Hanuma Vihari gets picked. Probable XI: Rohit (captain), Mayank, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
Kohli set to play his 100th Test
Kohli is set to feature in his 100th Test. He will become the 12th Indian player to reach this landmark in the format. The 33-year-old had earned his maiden Test cap in 2011 at Sabina Park, Jamaica, when India took on the West Indies. Along with him, Praveen Kumar and Abhinav Mukund also made their Test debuts in that match.
Kohli eyes the 8,000-run mark
Kohli is presently the sixth-highest run-scorer for India in Tests after Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul Dravid (13,288), Sunil Gavaskar (10,122), VVS Laxman (8,781), and Virender Sehwag (8,586). Kohli requires 38 more to complete 8,000 runs in the Test format.
