IND vs SL: 1st Test Preview – A monumental Test for Rohit, Kohli

India’s two-match Test series against Sri Lanka will commence on 4th March 2022 in Mohali. The Indian side will enter the series after thrashing the Sri Lankan side 3-0 in their recently concluded three-match T20I series.

In their previous Test series, the Indian side was beaten 1-2 by the South African side away from home. This series will also mark a change of guard as Rohit Sharma will now lead the Indian side in the longest format of the game as he takes over the reins from Virat Kohli.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka were last seen in action in the whites in November last year, where they thrashed the West Indies 2-0 at home. The first Test match will also be Virat Kohli’s 100^th Test for the Indian side in the whites.

India will surely start as favourites, while Sri Lanka will look to upset the Indian side in India’s own backyard.

Match Info

India vs Sri Lanka, 1^st Test

Venue: Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali

Start Date and Time: 4^th March 2022 at 09:30 AM IST

Head-to-Head

Team news

India

Agarwal and skipper Rohit Sharma will open the batting. While Shreyas Iyer is likely to occupy the No.3 slot, Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant will occupy the No.4, No.5, and No.6 slots. The two spin bowling all-rounders who will take the field are Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. The 3 pacers who will complete the lineup are Mohamed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah.

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka

Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka will open the batting. Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva and Charith Asalanka will complete the batting lineup. Sri Lanka will go with 2 spinners in Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama. Niroshan Dickwella shall take the gloves.

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