Rohit Sharma will captain India for the 1st time in Tests.
Rohit Sharma will be making his debut as India's Test captain as the team takes on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series from Friday.
Former captain Virat Kohli, who will play his 100th Test match for India in Mohali, will also be in the spotlight. Following the team's series defeat in South Africa, Kohli, the most successful Test captain, stepped down from the leadership group in the red-ball format.
Apart from Kohli's achievement, Mohali will also see a reshuffled Indian team, with the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara missing for the first time in years. Following an inconsistency with the willow, the senior batting duo was dropped from the team.
Former India batter Aakash Chopra believes Shubman Gill will have to wait for his chance. He placed Shreyas and Kohli at No. 3 and 4, respectively, eliminating Gill from the top-order attack.
"Two big slots are vacant because Pujara and Rahane are not there. I doubt Shubman Gill can get a chance at No. 3. He will get it in the longer run. I feel he is a No. 3 player and not an opener. But at this point in time, I think he will have to wait," said the cricketer-turned-commentator on his YouTube channel.
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"Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari - quite obvious, you will go with six batters in which one will be Rishabh Pant. I will go with Shreyas at No. 3 but the team might play Hanuma at No. 3. I want to play Shreyas at No. 3, Hanuma stays at No. 5, where he is," he added.
"So Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer - I am keeping him at No. 3, Virat Kohli at No. 4, I am going with Hanuma Vihari at No. 5 and I am playing Rishabh Pant at No. 6."
Chopra also commented on the spin bowling unit, stating that on the Mohali surface, the hosts should only use two spinners. While Ravindra Jadeja's versatility makes him an obvious choice, the Indian team can also go with R Ashwin or Jayant Yadav as the other spinner.
"At No. 7, I have got Ravindra Jadeja. If Ashwin is available, then Ashwin. If he is not available, then Jayant Yadav. I will go with two spinners only, whether Ashwin is available or not because it will not be a rank turner, it is winter time and the pitch will not crumble in Mohali," he further said.
Chopra backed Mohammed Shami's return to the Test set-up, adding that Mohammed Siraj will complete the pace unit, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the three-pacer attack.
"I want to play three fast bowlers which include Mohammed Shami - welcome back because we have not seen you for a long time, you are being kept slightly away from white-ball cricket but this is your area. Along with him will be Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj," he concluded.