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India Predicted XI For 1st Test vs Sri Lanka: Focus On Virat Kohli Ahead Of 100th Test

All eyes will be on Virat Kohli on the occasion of his 100th Test match when India take on Sri Lanka in the first of a two-match Test series, at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali starting Friday. Kohli, who had been given rest in the recently-concluded T20I series, will become the 12th Indian cricketer to play 100 Test matches -- the others being Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer is likely to be a part of the team after his three consecutive fifties in the 3-0 T20I series clean sweep against Sri Lanka. Here is how we think India will line up against Sri Lanka in the opening Test in Mohali:

India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test: When And Where To Watch Live Telecast, Live Streaming

India and Sri Lanka will battle it out in a two-match Test series starting March 4 in Mohali. The first Test will mark the beginning of newly appointed full-time skipper Rohit Sharma's journey as the leader of the Test side. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, will represent India in the cricketing whites for the 100th time. The home side has a few records to extend as it enters the Test series. One that must be highlighted is India's dominance over the island nation in Tests at home. So far, India have played against Sri Lanka 20 times at home, with the former emerging victorious on 11 occasions while the remaining nine ended in draws.

Milestone Men: Mohali Test against Sri Lanka is Virat Kohli's 100th and Rohit Sharma's first as Test captain

Cricket Association (PCA) stadium in Mohali, there are digital billboards reminding you that Virat Kohli is about to take the field for the 100th time in Test cricket on Friday. About half a day after the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and the PCA announced that the first Test against Sri Lanka can have a crowd at 50 per cent of capacity, there were people queuing up outside various gates of the stadium enquiring about the availability of tickets. For once, the PCA officials are hopeful a sizeable crowd will turn up at a venue which is infamous for poor turnouts in Test matches. For most part of Wednesday, any semblance of buzz around was all about Virat Kohli and his 100th Test until an 18-year-old boy dressed in Mumbai Indians jersey, waiting outside the gate to check for tickets, offered a reality check.

BCCI Central Contracts: Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara Dropped From Grade A to B

Out of favour veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara and former Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane were downgraded in the latest central contracts list of the BCCI that was ratified by the Board's Apex Council on Wednesday. The BCCI has four categories -- A which has annual remuneration of Rs 7 crore while A, B and C categories are valued at Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore and Rs 1 crore respectively. Last time, 28 cricketers were provided central contracts but this year, 27 have been awarded contracts with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah static as A players.

Indian cricketing legends extend wishes for Virat Kohli ahead of his 100th Test match

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag shared their best wishes to Virat Kohli as the former Indian captain will play his 100th Test match in Mohali on Friday. Kohli will become the 12th Indian cricketer to play 100 Tests. He will become Test centurion against Sri Lanka at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali starting March 4. "I remember the first time I heard about you was when we were in Australia in 2007. You guys were playing the U-19 World Cup in Malaysia and that's when there were certain players in the team who were discussing about you. This is one player to watch out for, achhi batting kar leta hai (he can do good batting)," Tendulkar said in a video shared by BCCI.

Mohali Test: A Day In Nets For 'Centurion' Virat Kohli and 'Captain' Rohit Sharma

Two men at the peak of their careers and separated by a year. Supremely successful, insanely wealthy, and achievers in their own right with manic followers growing exponentially with each passing day. But 48 hours before Virat Kohli gears up to play his landmark 100th Test and Rohit Sharma walks out from the PCA Stadium pavilion in a navy blue India blazer for the first time, they simply looked like two men possessed and intensely focussed to make their milestone moment special. While social media went into a frenzy before BCCI allowed crowd for the momentous occasion, there were not even 10 people around when the Indian team bus entered the stadium premises on Wednesday.

A day in nets for 'Centurion' Virat Kohli and 'Captain' Rohit Sharma

Supremely successful, insanely wealthy, and achievers in their own right with manic followers growing exponentially with each passing day. But 48 hours before Virat Kohli gears up to play his landmark 100th Test and Rohit Sharma walks out from the PCA Stadium pavilion in a navy blue India blazer for the first time, they simply looked like two men possessed and intensely focussed to make their milestone moment special.

India vs Sri Lanka: Former India Paceman Reveals What Will Give Rohit Sharma Confidence Ahead Of 1st Test As Captain

Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian cricket team in Test cricket for the first time when the teams walks out at the PCA Stadium in Mohali to take on Sri Lanka in the first Test match from Friday. Rohit will have big boots to fill as he takes over from Virat Kohli, who stepped down from captaincy in cricket's longest format after India's 1-2 loss to South Africa, away from home, earlier this year. Kohli is India's most successful Test captains in terms of victories and win percentage and has left behind a strong legacy.

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India Predicted XI For 1st Test vs Sri Lanka: Focus On Virat Kohli Ahead Of 100th Test

India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test: When And Where To Watch Live Telecast, Live Streaming

Milestone Men: Mohali Test against Sri Lanka is Virat Kohli's 100th and Rohit Sharma's first as Test captain

BCCI Central Contracts: Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara Dropped From Grade A to B

Indian cricketing legends extend wishes for Virat Kohli ahead of his 100th Test match

Mohali Test: A Day In Nets For 'Centurion' Virat Kohli and 'Captain' Rohit Sharma

A day in nets for 'Centurion' Virat Kohli and 'Captain' Rohit Sharma

India vs Sri Lanka: Former India Paceman Reveals What Will Give Rohit Sharma Confidence Ahead Of 1st Test As Captain