The two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka starts on the 4th of March. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team has swept off the T20 series with a scorecard of 3-0. The newly appointed all-format captain will lead the team in the longest format for the first time.
What makes this game more remarkable is that it is the Indian master batsman Virat Kohli's 100th Test match. Virat, who gave up on his captaincy in the previous Test series against South Africa, has 27 centuries and 28 half-centuries, which add to a format total of 7962 runs.
This article will have the match preview, team news and the dream11 predictions for the first Test match of the IND vs SL series.
Contents
Our Top Pick for IND vs SL 1st Test (04/03/22)
Team India to win: @ 1.08 with 22Bet
Team India are unbeatable in the home Tests. Also, considering the fact that Sri Lanka has never beaten India in their home Test matches, it will be a mountainous task for the Dimuth Karunaratne-led to side to win over this Indian team.
India vs Sri Lanka – Match Preview
The game will be part of the World Test Championship in which Sri Lanka currently stands at the top position with 2 wins in 2 games, whereas India is placed at 5th with two recent Test losses in South Africa. The players from both teams have already reached Mohali, the venue for the first game of the series, and started practicing in the nets.
Match Date and Time: 4th March 2022 (9.30 AM IST)
Venue: The match will be played in Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.
India vs Sri Lanka – Team Previews
India
India is playing a Test match without both Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara after almost 10 years. Therefore there are more vacant spaces ready to be filled in by youngsters. They have the services of Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja to bat in the middle, whereas Ravichandran Ashwin, who is out with an injury, is back in the nets and probably will play the first Test.
Probable Playing XI
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav
Sri Lanka
Wanindu Hasaranga will be a major miss for the series as he was ruled due to injury and then out of the tour due to a quarantine extension. Angelo Matthews is back in the squad after getting past the fitness test. The 34-year old fast bowler, Suranga Lakmal, will play his last international game in this series.
Playing XI
Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrema
Here are the odds for the online cricket bettors for the first Test match between India and Sri Lanka:
Team India to win: @ 1,08 with 22Bet
Team Sri Lanka to win: @ 7.8 with 22Bet
Note: Odds correct at the time of publishing. Please check the official bookmaker site before placing a bet.
IND vs SL Head to Head
- Matches Played: 44
- India Won: 20
- Sri Lanka Won: 7
- Draw: 17
- Matches played in India: 20 (IND Won – 11, SL Won – 0)
Note: Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test match in India. Overall, in the last 9 games (the last three India vs Sri Lanka series) the teams played against each other, Sri Lanka only managed to win one match, whereas India won in six. Two games ended in draws. And, Sri Lanka last won a Test series against India in 2008.
IND vs SL Dream11 Prediction
Find out the Dream11 fantasy team line-up for the 1st Test match of India vs Sri Lanka Test series:
Wicket Keepers
- Rishabh Pant
Batsmen
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Shreyas Iyer
All Rounders
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravichandran Ashwin
Bowlers
- Suranga Lakmal
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Lasith Embuldeniya
