MOHALI, March 3: Hailed by many as the ‘Last of the Mohicans’ in cricket’s purest format, Virat Kohli will be focussed on making his 100th appearance memorable while “white-ball legend” Rohit Sharma plots the demolition of an out-of-depth Sri Lanka as India’s 35th Test captain in the series-opener starting here on Friday.
If one looks back at the Indian team’s journey since its inception in international cricket back in 1932, it has been about stars, superstars, and megastars.
India was, is and will remain more of a “cricketer-loving” nation and the social media war-cry that perhaps led to fans being allowed in the stadium from Friday is testimony to Kohli’s popularity.
If this is his Test, a century to mark a ‘century’ is something he would be craving, having missed that sense of accomplishment that comes with a three-figure mark for over two years now.
Meanwhile, it is expected that Shubman Gill will be coming in at number three in the place vacated by Pujara.
The tricky position will be the other middle-order slot which Rahane had made his own for the longest time. There are two candidates – Hanuma Vihariand Shreyas Iyer – who have different batting styles.
There could be a tactical move of sending Rishabh Pant at number five to take on Sri Lanka’s premier left-arm spinner Embuldeniya.
The Lankan batting line-up depends heavily on skipper Dimuth Karunaratne along with old guards Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews, both well past their prime.
How well they handle Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on a pitch that will be dry after being baked by sunshine is a million dollar question.
In a nutshell, one can expect a four-day finish if India bats first and even earlier if they bat second.
India
Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jayant Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Kona Bharat (WK), Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar, Priyank Panchal
Sri Lanka
Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Dhanajaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dushmantha Chammeera, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Lasith Embuldeniya, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lahiru Kumara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pathum Nssanka, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne.
Match begins at 9:30 am IST. (PTI)
