Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match Preview –

India has been unbeaten in the shortest format since the T20 World Cup 2021 is over. Rohit Sharma was appointed as the skipper of the T20Is, and he has bagged three clean sweep series wins under his belt. But in the traditional format, the Test series loss against South Africa will hurt the team because it is another opportunity that has gone by to win a Test series in South Africa.

India has done well in the Test arena off late. They have won the two back-to-back series against Australia Down Under, and under Virat Kohli, Team India was close to winning the Test series in England after 14 years. The last Test match of that series will be played in June 2022. India is leading the series by a 2-1 margin. But India has a good record against Sri Lanka in Test cricket, and they will be under the new captain for this series.

Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in whites, and the Hit Man will look to replicate his T20Is success in the traditional format. Rohit has been a terrific opening batsman for India in the limited-overs and Test matches. His career has taken a U-turn after opening for India in all three formats.

Mayank Agarwal will be his opening partner for the first test match, and India would like to give an opportunity to Shubman Gill in the next Test, which will be a Pink Ball test match. Virat Kohli will play his 100^th Test match tomorrow. The King has had a great career so far, and it is a perfect time for him to end his century drought in his milestone Test.

But the middle order will be in focus after Chesteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were dropped in this Test series against Sri Lanka. Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari are the likely replacements for the Test specialists in four and five batting positions. Shreyas Iyer had a dream debut against New Zealand in the Kanpur Test match, and he has been in good form. Shreyas Iyer was the man of the series in the T20Is against Sri Lanka.

The new skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders was made full use of the opportunities in absence of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant. He scored unbeaten 57, 78, and 74 runs in the three-match T20I series, which India won 3-0. Hanuma Vihahari will be getting a chance to bat at number 5. Vihari hasn’t played a Test match since that famous draw against Australia in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Vihari needs to be consistent in the middle order as India is looking to rebuild their team after axing Rahane and Pujara in the Test matches. This will be a golden chance for both these players as they can be looked at as a long-term prospect for India in Test matches. Rishabh Pant will bat at number 6, or they can even go with KS Bharat at that position.

Ravindra Jadeja played well in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, and he will look to continue his excellent form in the Test matches as well. Jaddu had missed the South African tour due to injury in the Kanpur Test match against New Zealand. But Ravichandran Ashwin will look to make a men’s mark after a disappointing tour of South Africa. India’s fast bowling department will have the best pace attacks.

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammad Siraj will play both the Test matches. Ishant Sharma didn’t find a place in this Test squad, and India can also go with Umesh Yadav if they feel to add the fourth pace bowler in their team. Overall, this team looks good. But the middle order should fire for them.

Sri Lanka has had many batting failures whenever they have played against India. They cannot adapt to the spin and pace of the wickets in India, and that is why the visitors have struggled to win a single Test match on India’s soil. Sri Lanka has played 20 Tests, and they have lost 11 of them while 9 games have been drawn.

The visitors have a good team. But the batters need to step up against a good and quality bowling lineup of the Indian Team. Sri Lanka will find it challenging to handle the red hot bowlers like Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Ashwin, and Jadeja. They will need Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, and Charith Asalanka to fire in the Test series.

The bowlers, too, hold the key. They need to pick up 20 wickets against this batting powerhouse team of India. Dushmantha Chamera, Suranga Lakmal, and Vishwa Fernando will hold the key for the Sri Lankans in this two-match Test series.

Match Details –

Match – Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match

Venue – Punjab Cricket Association Stadium (PCA) in Mohali.

Day/Date – Friday, 4^th March 2022 to Tuesday, 8^th March 2022.

Timings – 9.30 AM IST and 4 AM GMT

Toss Time – 9 AM IST and  3.30 AM GMT.

TV channels – Star Sports India Networks.

Live Streaming – Disney Plus Hotstar, Fan Code, Amazon Mini TV, Vodafone TV, JIO TV, Live Cricket App, Live Ten Sports App.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka Match – 1^st Test Match Pitch Report

The pitch at PCA Stadium is a typical Indian wicket. It supports the pace bowlers early on, and then the wicket will turn to help the spinners. India has won seven matches at this venue till now. The teams should win the toss and bat first on this pitch.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match – Weather Report

The forecast says that it will be a sunny day at Mohali from tomorrow.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match – India’s probable Playing XI

Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammad Siraj.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match – Sri Lanka’s Probable Playing XI

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Charith Asalanka, Dananjaya De Silva, Angelo Matthews, Chamika Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Pavin Jayawickarama.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match Head To Head Stats

Overall Record –

• Matches – 44
• India won – 20
• Sri Lanka won – 7
• Drawn matches – 17

Sri Lanka’s Record in India –

• Matches – 20
• Sri Lanka – 0
• India – 11
• Drawn – 9

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match – Fantasy Batsmen

Virat Kohli – The Run Machine and King of International Cricket, Virat Kohli is set to become just a 12^th Indian and 71^st overall to play 100^th Test matches. Kohli is the backbone of the Indian team in all formats. What a time for Kohli to end his international century draught. Virat hasn’t scored a century since 2019. The stage is set for Kolhi’s Virat knock in Mohali.

Angelo Matthews – The former Sri Lankan skipper and the best all-rounder will have to deliver for Sri Lanka to get their 1st Test win in India. The visitors will want their two most experienced batters, Angelo and Chandimal, to step up against a quality seam and spin attack. Angelo’s presence at the crease will do a world of good for the Lankans in this Test series.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2a Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match – Fantasy Bowlers

Mohammad Shami – The pacer will be back in action after resting in the limited-overs series against West Indies and the T20I matches against Sri Lanka. Shami bowled well in South Africa. But the luck didn’t favor him much. Shami will look to trouble the poor and inexperienced batting lineup of Sri Lanka with his excellent red-ball skills.

Suranga Lakmal – The Sri Lankan pace bowler will hold the key, especially with the new ball. The PCA Stadium pitch offers some assistance to the pace bowlers at the start. So, he can be lethal for Sri Lanka in both innings.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 1^st Test Match – Fantasy Team

Batters – Pathum Nissanka, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli.

Bowler – Dushmantha Chameera, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Suranga Lakmal.

All-rounders – Ravindra Jadeja and Angelo Matthews.

Wicketkeeper – Rishabh Pant.

Vice-Captain – Chamika Karunaratne

Captain – Rohit Sharma.

Predictions –

India will win the first Test match at Mohali and lead the Test series by 1-0.