The first Test between India and Sri Lanka will begin on March 4th (Friday) at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. The match will mark the 100th Test of former skipper Virat Kohli. He will become the 12th Indian to play in 100 Tests for his country.
Many senior players like Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, and Wriddhiman Saha – were dropped ahead of the series and now some young faces are set to feature in India’s playing XI.
On that note, here we take a look at India’s Probable Playing XI for the First Test against Sri Lanka:
1) Rohit Sharma (c)
The Sri Lanka series will be the first assignment for Rohit as the Test skipper. He was named the All-format captain of Team India last month. In home tests, the Indian skipper has a phenomenal record with the bat. He has an average of 79.52 and has slammed 7 centuries and 6 half-centuries on Indian soil.
T20I ✅
ODIs ✅
… and now Tests ✅Say Hello to #TeamIndia's all-format captain @ImRo45! 👋 👋 pic.twitter.com/5rTNJrlYgm
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 19, 2022
2) Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal will most likely be the opening partner of Rohit Sharma in IND vs SL 1st Test. In the 10 Test innings, Mayank has played at home, he has accumulated 839 runs at a staggering average of 83.90.
He will be expected to put up another strong showing against Sri Lanka.
3) Hanuma Vihari
Despite decent performances, Hanuma Vihari has never really got a long rope in India’s Playing XI. Now with veteran Cheteshwar Pujara being dropped from the team, Vihari can be given a chance at no.3.
He has a solid technique and the right temperament to bat at that crucial position for Team India
4) Virat Kohli
After resting for the T20I series between India and Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli will rejoin the squad. Against Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli has 5 centuries and 2 fifties in Test Cricket. In 15 innings. he has scored 1004 runs at an average of 77.23.
For Kohli fans, nothing can be better if the 33-year old ends his century drought in his 100th Test match.
5) Shreyas Iyer
In his debut Test in November last year against New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer had smashed a century and a half-century. In the long run, he might just be the ideal candidate for Team India at no.5.
He will also carry immense confidence from his performance in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka.
6) Rishabh Pant (wk)
After being rested for the T20I series, Rishabh Pant will join the team again. In the previous series, the southpaw had blasted a magnificent century against South Africa.
He scored 186 runs at an average of 37.20 in six innings on that tour. In his 8 Test innings at home, Rishabh Pant has scored 454 runs at a healthy average of 64.86.
7) Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja has taken 162 Test wickets in home matches at an average of 21.01 and strike rate 56.72. The promise Jadeja has shown with the bat in the past few years also adds a lot more balance to the side.
The team management will expect Jadeja to give a solid performance at Mohali.
8) Ravichandran Ashwin
It’s hard to find an Indian bowler with a better home record than Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner has picked 300 wickets on Indian soil at an average of 21.41 and strike rate of 47.67. Ashwin has taken 16 wickets from 3 matches at Mohali.
Ashwin’s participation in the Mohali Test, however, is dependent on his fitness status, and if he is unable to play, Jayant Yadav might be the best like-for-like option.
9) Mohammed Shami
Shami has been an integral part of Team India’s red-ball bowling attack in the past few years. After a well-deserved break, he is set to return to in the Playing XI and display a solid performance against Sri Lanka.
Against Sri Lanka, the speedster has taken 19 wickets at an average of 23.47 and a strike rate of 43.53.
10) Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah will be the deputy of skipper Rohit Sharma in this Test series. The right-arm pacer had put up a strong showing against South Africa, and he’ll look to do the same against Sri Lanka as well.
He has just played 2 Test matches in India so far, picking 4 wickets at an average of 32.25.
11) Mohammed Siraj
Considering the grass cover at Mohali pitches, it can be a good option to pick Siraj over a spinner. During the Test series against South Africa, Siraj got injured and was unable to play all of the games.
However, during the recent ODI series between India and West Indies, he looked in great rhythm as he picked up 5 wickets at an average of 18.60 in three games.
India’s Predicted 11 For 1st Test: Rohit Sharma (c), Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
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