Summary
In the 1990s, the Mohali pitch was considered helpful for fast bowlers. It was one of those grounds in India where fast bowlers loved to bowl. However, in the last few years, this ground has been dominated by spinners.
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The first match of the two-Test series will be played between India and Sri Lanka in Mohali from Friday. The toss for this match will be held at 9 am and the first ball will be bowled at 9.30 am. Both the teams will meet after four years. The last Test series between the two teams was played in December 2017. Team India won it 1-0.
The record of the Indian team at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali has been excellent. The team has been here invincible for the last 27 years. The last time Team India lost by 243 runs against West Indies in Mohali in December 1994. Since then, all the matches that India has played here have either been drawn or won.
Only one match between India and Sri Lanka in Mohali
India has played a total of 13 Tests in Mohali and won seven. One was defeated and five matches were drawn. Only one test was played between India and Sri Lanka at Mohali ground. The match played in 1997 ended in a draw. India will play a Test in Mohali after almost five years. Team India played the last match at this ground against England in November 2016, which was a draw.
Test statistics between India and Sri Lanka
Talking about the match between India and Sri Lanka, a total of 44 Test matches have been played between the two. Out of this, Team India won 20 matches, while facing defeat in seven. 17 matches were drawn. India has played 20 Tests against Sri Lanka on their soil. Out of this, 11 were won and nine matches were drawn. India have not lost a single Test against Sri Lanka on their own soil. In such a situation, the Sri Lankan team is looking for the first victory on Indian soil.
Mohali pitch can be helpful for spinners
In the 1990s, the Mohali pitch was considered helpful for fast bowlers. It was one of those grounds in India where fast bowlers loved to bowl. However, in the last few years, this ground has been dominated by spinners. Indian spinners have played a key role in winning at this ground since 2012.
In Mohali from 2001 to 2010, fast bowlers took 83 wickets and spinners took 80 wickets. At the same time, from 2011 to 2020, spinners took 81 wickets on this ground, while fast bowlers got 59 wickets. In the last 10 years, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have wreaked havoc on this ground and played a special role in Team India’s victory. In such a situation, captain Rohit Sharma would like to take the field along with Ashwin and Jadeja in the first Test as well.
All eyes will be on Virat Kohli’s 100th Test
This Test is going to be special for former India captain and veteran batsman Virat Kohli. This will be the 100th match of his Test career. In his 11-year Test career, Kohli has scored 27 centuries in 99 matches. It has seven double centuries. He has an average of 50.39 in Tests. So far he has scored a total of 7962 runs. On the occasion of Kohli’s 100th Test, the BCCI has also allowed 50 percent of the spectators in the stadium.
Virat Kohli can end the drought of centuries
In Kohli’s 100th Test, the eyes of the fans will also be on the drought of his centuries. Kohli’s last international century was in November 2019 in the Kolkata Test against Bangladesh. He will try to make the 100th Test memorable by scoring a century against Sri Lanka. Kohli should have no problem playing the Sri Lankan attack with bowlers like Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara or Lasith Embuldeniya.
Rohit Sharma will captain for the first time in Tests
This Test will also mark the beginning of a new journey for the Indian team led by Rohit. Rohit was made the new Test captain after Kohli resigned from the captaincy after the South African tour. Now it will be a matter to be seen that what team India achieves under the captaincy of Rohit. Rohit, however, impressed everyone with his captaincy in limited overs cricket.
Under his captaincy, India defeated New Zealand 3–0 in T20 series, West Indies 3–0 in ODI and T20 series and Sri Lanka 3–0 in T20 series. Rohit is now 34 years old and it is certain that he will not be the captain of India for long. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see how he handles this period of change in Indian cricket. However, it has started with the exclusion of stalwarts like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma.
All eyes will be on India’s playing-11
The biggest challenge for captain Rohit is to find alternatives to batsmen like Rahane and Pujara. Mayank Agarwal’s opening with Rohit is believed to be fixed. There is a battle between three players for two places. These three players are – Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer. Some experts believe that Shubman Gill can bat at number three in place of Pujara.
At the same time, former veterans like Wasim Jaffer believe that Hanuma Vihari will be a better option at number three. Shreyas Iyer is being considered as the contender for Rahane’s number five. If Shubman plays at number three, there will be a battle for number five between Vihari and Shreyas. Vihari is considered a batsman with cool temper. He stays on the ground and it spoils the momentum of the opposition bowlers.
Shreyas Iyer almost certain to play
If Hanuma Vihari gets a chance at number three, Shreyas will be preferred over Shubman. Shreyas has been in excellent form for some time now. Shreyas was the Player of the Series in the T20 series against Sri Lanka. Apart from this, Shreyas scored a century against New Zealand on his debut. In such a situation, his play is considered fixed.
Sri Lanka’s team is largely dependent on its captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal in batting. At the same time, in bowling, the team will have bowlers like Lakmal, Lahiru and Chamira. Embuldeniya and Jayavikrama will be responsible for the spin.
Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer
Probable Playing-11
Bharat: Rohit Sharma (captain), Rishabh Pant, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill/Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nisanka, Charith Aslanka, Dhananjay de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chamira, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama
Pitch and weather information
The pitch on the Mohali ground can be helpful for the spinners. However, on the first two days, the batsmen will get a chance to score runs. So the team winning the toss would like to bat first. Playing first, a score above 350 would be good. The weather is expected to remain clear. There is no chance of rain. The maximum temperature during the Test match will be 30 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature will be 13 degree Celsius.
Expansion
The first match of the two-Test series will be played between India and Sri Lanka in Mohali from Friday. The toss for this match will be held at 9 am and the first ball will be bowled at 9.30 am. Both the teams will meet after four years. The last Test series between the two teams was played in December 2017. Team India won it 1-0.
The record of the Indian team at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali has been excellent. The team has been here invincible for the last 27 years. The last time Team India lost by 243 runs against West Indies in Mohali in December 1994. Since then, all the matches that India has played here have either been drawn or won.