The 22 yards at the I.S. Bindra Stadium at Mohali on the outskirts of Chandigarh used to be among the fastest wickets in India. However, in recent years, spinners have had the upper hand here in red-ball cricket. That trend is likely to continue as India take on Sri Lanka in the first of the two-match Test series from Friday.
This match is quite significant in many ways. First, this is Virat Kohli's milestone 100th Test match. The buzz around the match is around that. At the same time, this is also Rohit Sharma's first Test as captain. Following India's defeat in South Africa, India are entering into the new era under a fresh leader.
There is also the matter of the World Test Championship. India have, struggling at fifth place, will be desperate to win the series if not both Test matches. Sri Lanka, having clean swept the West Indies in their only series, are at the top of the points table. They are unlikely to hold on to that, but even if they win one Test match, they will remain in the top two. Australia and Pakistan, second and third in the table, will be playing a series simultaneously.
With no SENA Test tour (barring that one Test match in England this year) scheduled in near future, the Indian team management is looking to groom youngsters in these home games. In the middle order, with no Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane, there will be opportunities to grab for the likes of Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer. At the top, one of Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal will partner Rohit.
The bowling looks sorted, with Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami all available for selection. There is no Axar Patel, so Jayant Yadav is likely to get the nod on a dry pitch ahead of Mohammed Siraj.
Sri Lanka are here to prove a point. They are yet to win a Test match in India, and Dimuth Karunaratne's men have to play out of their skin to change this record. Of late, they have done well in similar conditions against non-Asian teams. However, playing India in India is a different challenge altogether.
Lahiru Thirimanne and Niroshan Dickwella are back and should make the playing XI, with the former replacing Pathum Nissanka at the top and the latter donning the big gloves. Angelo Mathews, too, should feature.
Likely XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama
Fantasy tips
- The wicket is expected to take turn from the first day. Pick as many spinners as you can.
- Kohli looked a bit out of sorts at the nets, but expect him to make his milestone Test match special.
- With 62 wickets from 13 Test matches, Embuldeniya will be the player to watch from the Sri Lanka in this series. On this dry wicket, he will be their prime wicket-taking option.
Fantasy XI
Rishabh Pant (wk); Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Pathum Nissanka; Ravindra Jadeja (c), Angelo Mathews, R. Ashwin (vc), Dhananjaya de Silva; Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Embuldeniya.