The first Test between India and Sri Lanka which will begin at the Punjab Cricket Stadium in Mohali today will be significant for both sides. This would be Sri Lanka’s 300th test and former Indian skipper Viath Kholi’s 100th Test. Secondly, It would be the start of India’s new era as Rohit Sharma would be making his test Captaincy debut after being made an all format skipper some time ago.

Sri Lanka played their debut Test against England on February 17, 1982, and reached the milestone of the 300th test which is a historic occasion for Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne. So far Sri Lanka has played 299 Tests while they won 95, lost 113, and 91 ended in draws.

It will be a privilege to lead the Sri Lanka team at this 300th test match and our team is ready to take up the challenge against India in this game said Sri Lanka Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne at the virtual press briefing yesterday. Karunaratne who is set to play his 75th test match today said, “I have played three Indian test matches earlier and wanted to have the best Indian series this time. We have a very experienced batting lineup to make a good challenge against India and also had a good preparation for this series”, added Karunaratne.

“Sri Lanka lost to India 0-3 at the recently concluded T-20 series but it’s not an issue and this is a different type of format and we are ready for test cricket”, said Karunaratne.

“Especially, the Indian Cricket Board took a decision to allow 50% of spectators to view this first Test and it’s very important to play the game with spectators and that atmosphere always is very good to play the game”, said Karunaratne.

The skipper Katunaratne talking about team composition for the first test said, “We are expected to field three seamers, one left-arm spinner along with seven batters for the first Test while Niroshan Dickwella is going to keep the wickets today. Most probably I myself with Lahiru Thirimanne will open the batting while Pathum Nissnaka will bat at number three but this could change according to the match situation and a final decision is expected to be made before the match and final practice session was planned to be held yesterday evening.

Sri Lanka most probably will play with one regular leg spinner Lasith Embuldeniya while the two part-time bowlers, Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka can be used as off-spinners to balance the side. Meanwhile, young off-spinner Ashian Daniel still has not joined the team due to a visa issue, and it wasconfirmed by Skipper Karunaratne (Daniel played yesterday’s National Super League Four-day game for the Kandy side).

The inclusion of Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya, and Asalanka will make a strong middle order. We have to correct mistakes and wanted to make a good first innings and this is going to be new series in 2022 and come back strongly this year Meanwhile, Karunaratne also confirmed Dushmantha Chameera the in-form seamer might be rested for the first test due to his heavy workload at the white ball format while Kusal Mendis also not fully fit for the first Test and both of them will miss today’s game.

Karunaratne further said they already observed the Mohali wicket and a little bit of grass on it and day by day it might change and the pacemen have to do good work here. Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, and Vishwa Fernando are the three leading pacemen, who will get their chance to perform well while Lakmal will play his last Test series before retirement.

Meanwhile, India’s Rohit Sharma is looking will come to this game with his debut test captaincy. Indian cricket team will have a relatively young middle order without the likes of veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane both have been dropped from the side due to poor form and management are planning on having some young Indian talent get in the batting lineup

In. Rahul’s absence Mayank Agarwal looks set to open the batting with skipper Sharma while the number three slot could go to someone like Shubman Gil or even the in-form Shreyas Iyer while former skipper Kholi who is going to play his 100th test is the obvious pick as number four batter according to India team reports. Hanuma Vihari, wicketkeeper Rishab Pant and seamers new Vice Captain Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Shiraj, and Umesh Yadev while two experienced spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are also in the team to make the challenge for the Sri Lanka batting line up. Mohali is a pace-friendly pitch and India also looking to field a strong pace attack at this first Test today