After a convincing victory in the first test match, India will now take on Sri Lanka in a day and night test match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The match will begin on March 12 at 2:00 PM IST.
India put on a mammoth 574 runs in the first innings of the Mohali test match. Ravindra Jadeja slammed an unbeaten 175, while Rishabh Pant fell short of his hundred. In response, Sri Lanka was bowled out for a mere 174 runs and was asked to follow on.
The Indian bowlers kept the Sri Lanka bowlers on their toes, as they once again got the better of them in the second innings. Sri Lanka lost the Test by an innings and 222 runs. Ravindra Jadeja was awarded the Player of the Match award for his 175 runs and nine wickets in the match.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧. 𝗔. 𝗪𝗜𝗡! 👏 👏@ImRo45 begins his Test captaincy stint with a win as #TeamIndia beat Sri Lanka by an innings & 2⃣2⃣2⃣ runs in the first @Paytm #INDvSL Test in Mohali. 👌 👌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/XaUgOQVg3O pic.twitter.com/P8HkQSgym3
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 6, 2022
India will be keen to keep the winning momentum going. With the second test match, set to be a Day & Night affair, it will be interesting to see India’s playing combination.
On that note, let’s take a look at India’s predicted playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.
1. Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal opened the innings with Rohit Sharma in the first test match at Mohali, as KL Rahul is not part of the series due to an injury. Agarwal got off to a good start, however, failed to convert it into a big score. He was dismissed for 33 runs off 49 balls, by Embuldeniya.
The opener has previously played against Bangladesh and Australia in a D/N test match. However, was unable, to make a mark for himself. He is likely to continue at the top of the order in the second test. Mayank will be keen to perform well in the second test match.
2. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma’s career as a Test captain got off to a winning start in the last test match. Opening the batting, Rohit scored a quickfire 29, off 28 balls including 6 boundaries. However, he again fell to the short ball ploy. Rohit was caught at the fine leg by Lakmal off Lahiru Kumara.
The Indian skipper performed well in the D/N test against England last year. He scored 66 runs in the first innings and an unbeaten 25 in the second. Rohit will be hoping to better his performance in the upcoming test.
3. Hanuma Vihari
Hanuma Vihari replaced Cheteshwar Pujara at Number 3 for India in the first test match. Pujara was dropped for the Indian squad, due to poor form. Vihari took the opportunity in the first test and slammed 58 runs off 128 deliveries, including five boundaries. He and Virat Kohli put together a crucial partnership of 90 runs for the third wicket stand.
Vihari was part of the Indian playing XI for the D/N Test against Australia, but could not do much with the bat. He will be looking forward to continuing his form from the first test into the next test.
4. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli achieved the milestone of playing 100 test matches for India in the first test match at Mohali. He scored 45 runs in the first innings and was involved in a crucial partnership with Vihari. Virat’s 45-runs knock, off 76 balls involved 5 boundaries.
The former India skipper has a fantastic record in D/N test matches. He slammed a hundred against Bangladesh in 2019. Kohli also performed brilliantly against Australia in the 2020 D/N test.
5. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer replaced Ajinkya Rahane in the Indian playing XI for the first test match against Sri Lanka in Mohali. Rahane was dropped from the Indian test team, due to inconsistent form.
Shreyas could not make much of an impact in the first Test match. The right-hander scored 27 runs off 48 balls, including three boundaries. The Bengaluru test will be Shreyas’ first pink-ball test match for India. He will be keen to make a mark for himself and establish his position in the Indian side.
6. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant missed out on a well-deserved century in the first test match at Mohali. Coming in to bat at 170/3, Pant slammed 96 runs off 97 balls, including nine boundaries and four sixes.
He tried to casually block a good length delivery, however, the ball went on to hit the stumps from the gap between his bat and bad. Pant was sent back to rousing applause by the Mohali crowd. The wicket-keeper will be hoping to continue his great run, in the pink ball test as well.
7. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja stole the show at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali in the first test match. His’ all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award. Jadeja slammed 175 runs in the first innings of the test match, off 228 balls. His knock included 17 boundaries and three sixes.
The all-rounder also led the Indian bowling attack. He took 5/41 in the first innings, to dismiss Sri Lanka for 174 runs, and enforce a follow-on. Jadeja took four wickets in the second innings, to finish the match with 9 wickets and 175 runs.
He became the first player in history to score more than 150 runs and pick up nine wickets in the same Test.
8. Axar Patel
Axar Patel is likely to replace Jayant Yadav in the second test match in Bengaluru. He was added to the squad on Tuesday, after completing his rehab. Jayant did not get a lot of opportunities to bowl in the first game, 17 overs in the whole match. With Axar Patel back, Jayant may have to sit out for the D/N Test match.
Axar Patel has been brilliant for India in the home test matches. He has picked 36 wickets in 5 test matches, so far, with five five-wicket hauls to his name. The all-rounder will be keen to continue his dream run for India in the red-ball format.
9. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin had a great outing for India in the first test match at Mohali. He scored 61 runs, off 82 balls including eight boundaries, in the first innings, to help India get to mammoth 574 runs. He also made an impact with the ball.
Ashwin took two wickets in the first innings, and a four-wicket haul in the second innings. The off-spinner took seven wickets against England in the D/N Test match last year in Ahmedabad.
10. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is Rohit Sharma’s deputy for this ongoing test series against Sri Lanka. He had a decent outing in the first test match at Mohali. Bumrah took two wickets in the first innings but did not get much to bowl in the second.
The pacer has played two pink ball tests for India so far. He will be a vital player for India in the bowling attack in the second test match against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.
11. Mohammed Shami
Just like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami too had a decent outing in the first test. With the spinners doing the bulk of the work, the pacers did not bowl much. Shami scored 20 runs off 34 balls in the first innings.
He took a wicket in the first innings, followed by two more in the second innings. With the second Test match to be played with the pink ball, Mohammed Shami will be one of India’s key players.
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