Rohit Sharma will be leading India in the longest format.
Team India returned to Test cricket on Friday in Mohali, where they faced off against Sri Lanka in the first of the two-match series. The match is significant for India for a couple of reasons: it is Virat Kohli's 100th Test, making him the twelfth Indian to reach the milestone.
The game in Mohali also marks the start of Rohit Sharma's full-time captaincy of India in the longest format.
Rohit Sharma has had an excellent start to his full-time leadership role in limited-overs cricket, with his side sweeping series victories over New Zealand (T20Is), the West Indies (ODIs and T20Is), and Sri Lanka (T20Is).
The Indian opener is leading in Tests for the first time, but former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes the 34-year-old will not face a "big challenge."
“I don't think so. Because it won't be a big challenge for Rohit Sharma in red-ball cricket. If you talk about Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, you have experienced players like Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer who can replace them. Iyer had made a bright start to Test cricket,” Gambhir said on the pre-match show on Star Sports.
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“When you have Ashwin, Jadeja, Shami, Bumrah, then it doesn't get (difficult). Bowlers win you matches, batters only set the match up. Virat Kohli has developed India's bowling strength, so I don't think it should be difficult for Rohit Sharma in red-ball cricket.”
Gambhir went on to say that leading in India is easier than leading elsewhere.
“In India, it's comparatively easier. You win the toss and bat. Overseas, it gets difficult because the condition is challenging. Here, you know you can set the game if you bat first,” said the former India opener.
In the first Test against Sri Lanka, India had won the toss and elected to bat. Prior to the start of the game, India's head coach Rahul Dravid honored former captain Kohli.