Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

IND vs SL 1st Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SL 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Key Players | Mohali Pitch Report

All roads will lead to the I.S Bindra Stadium in Mohali on March 4 when India locks horns with Sri Lanka in former skipper, Virat Kohli’s landmark 100th Test.

This will be the first time that India will play Test cricket post the heartbreak in South Africa earlier this winter where they squandered a 1-0 advantage and ended up losing 2-1.

That series proved to be the last time Kohli captained India in the longest format as the country’s most successful skipper relinquished leadership duties post the heart-wrenching defeat.

On Friday, Kohli will add another jewel to his crown as he’ll become the 71st cricketer and 12th Indian to represent his country in 100 matches. The legendary cricketer has not scored an international hundred in his last 70 innings. Will he score his 71st in 71st on occasion of him becoming the 71st man to play 100 games?

Landmark aside, this Test will be crucial for India in more ways than one. It will officially be the start of a new era with the team led by a name not named Virat and the middle-order not having the presence of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

The veteran duo have finally been dropped from the squad following an extended lean patch and this offers a chance for the likes of Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer to stake their claim in the middle-order.

As for Sri Lanka, the Dimuth Karunaratne-led unit got off to a brilliant start to their WTC 2023 campaign as they swept aside the West Indies at home with ease last winter. But, the visitors know that a tougher challenge awaits them in the form of India. Sri Lanka have never won a Test match in India in 20 attempts and the gulf between the two teams in the last decade has increased even more.

In the last three series between India and Lanka, the former has six out of nine games, including consecutive wins in the island nation (2-1 in 2015 & 3-0 in 2017).

But Sri Lanka do have lot of pedigree in their squad  to challenge India. Skipper Karunaratne has been in magnificent form in the past 12 months as have Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne and Dhananjaya De Silva. The trio, along with the senior duo of Angelo Matthews and Dinesh Chandimal will have to shoulder the responsibility of spearheading the batting against an all-round Indian attack, especially Ashwin-Jadeja.

With Ramesh Mendia and Mahesh Theekshana not available, the spin attack will be dependent on Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrema while Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal will lead the pace attack.

Possible Playing 11

Rohit is back in the side after missing the last two series and it will be interesting to see who partners him at the top in the absence of KL Rahul. Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal are the two contenders but the latter’s brilliant home record could sway the balance in his favour.

Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin will lead the spin attack while the third spot will go to one of Jayant Yadav or Kuldeep Yadav- If at all India decide to go with three spinners.

It will be interesting to see who partners Jasprit Bumrah in the seam-bowling department if the home side decided to go with just two pacers, with Mohammed Siraj, Shami and Umesh Yadav all available for selection.

India:

Rohit Sharma ©, Mayank Agarwal/Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami/ Mohammad Siraj

Sri Lanka:

Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Chamika Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrema, Dushmantha Chameera

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

• Rohit Sharma: Sharma has been India’s best Test batsman alongside Rishabh Pant in the last 12 months and he will be looking to continue with the same on Test captaincy. He loves batting in India, and especially when the opposition is Sri Lanka. Back in 2017, he hammered 217 runs in three innings against them.
• Virat Kohli: All eyes will be on Kohli in his landmark Test. He may not have scored a 100 in the last 18-20 months but Kohli has shown increasing signs of getting back to his best in his recent outings against South Africa.
• He has scored four 50s in his last nine innings. Kohli’s record vs Lanka in India: 610 runs in five innings @ 152.50, including three tons.
• Mayank Agarwal: He may not have scored that many runs in South Africa but a stellar home record makes his case strong for selection in the 1st Test. Agarwal is averaging 83.90 in seven home Tests with the help of four hundreds. He scored a series-winning ton against New Zealand in his last home outing.
• Shreyas Iyer: The Mumbai lad is at the peak of his powers currently across formats. He scored a century on Test debut against New Zealand besides scoring three consecutive unbeaten 50s in the recent T20I series against Lanka. With No.5 spot up for grabs, Iyer will look to seal it with good performances in this series.
• R Ashwin: The legendary spinner did not have a great time in South Africa but in familiar conditions, he will once again be India’s prime arsenal. His record vs Sri Lanka: 50 wickets in 17 innings @ 23.58.
• R Jadeja: The all-rounder has missed a lot of Test cricket in the last 12 months due to injury and his bowling too has taken a bit of a hit. However, on home tracks, he will still be tough to handle as New Zealand discovered last year. Also his batting form has been as good as anyone’s in the last four years.

Sri Lanka:

• Dimuth Karunaratne: Having racked up 902 runs in 13 innings at an average of 69.4 in the last 12 months, Karunaratne will come into this series on the back of a good year in Test cricket.
• He struggled during the last tour back in 2017, managing just 91 runs in six innings. The skipper will look to make amends for it this time.
• Pathum Nissanka: The young batsman has had a good start to his career. In 10 innings, he has scored 423 runs @ 43.30 apiece. This series will, however, be a huge test of his physical and mental skills.
• Dinesh Chandimal: The former skipper is likely to carry out the wicketkeeping duties in the first Test and he will hope to do an encore of his performances from 2017. Back then, he racked up 366 runs in six innings @ 61 apiece with the help of two half-centuries and one hundred.
• Dhananjaya de Silva: The vice-captain will come in this series with 530 runs in his last 10 innings at an average of nearly 60. He will have fond memories of India as he scored a brilliant hundred in one of the two innings he played in that series.
• Angelo Matthews: The veteran all-rounder will add a much-needed solidity to the middle-order. However, he will look to improve on his Test record in the country.  In 11 innings since his first trip in 2009, Matthews has managed just 345 runs at an average of 31.36 with a lone hundred.
• Lasith Embuldeniya: With 32 wickets in 11 innings since the start of 2021, Embuldeniya is the leading wicket-taker for his side and once again the onus will be on him and Praveen Jayawickrama to lead the spin-bowling attack.

Stats & Facts

• Sri Lanka have never won a Test in India. In 20 attempts, they have lost 11 times while the rest have ended in a draw.
• India have lost just two Tests at home since January 2013.
• India’s record in Mohali: 7 wins and 1 defeat in 13 games.
• This will be the first Test that Mohali will host since December 2016, where they hosted England.
• Virat Kohli is 38 runs away from breaching the 8000-run barrier in Test cricket. He will be only the 6th Indian to achieve the landmark.
• No Indian has ever scored a 100 in his 100th Test. Will Kohli become the first?

Mohali Pitch Report & Weather conditions

Mohali’s pitch is traditionally a very good one for batting as true bounce and good enough pace aids shot-making. Runs scoring is likely to be fast. However, as the game progresses, spinners as well as pacers with their reverse swing will come into the game.

The average 1st innings & 2nd innings scores here are 355 and 379 respectively and teams bowling first have won five out of 13 games as compared to three by the side batting first.

As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to be overcast but chances of rain are minimal. The temperatures are likely to hover between 14-24 degree Celsius while the humidity is set to be around 60 per cent.

Dream11 and Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant
• Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Dimuth Karunaratne
• All-rounders: R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja
• Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Embuldinya

Match Prediction

Team India will start as massive favorites.