Sri Lanka’s upcoming tour of India is likely to kick off with the T20I series first. This means the two-Test series will be played later and the PCA Stadium in Mohali might effectively host the 100th Test of former India captain Virat Kohli and not Bengaluru.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium has been the virtual home ground for Kohli because of his 14-year association with the local IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and it could have been a fitting setting for the milestone match.
Cricbuzz has reported that two Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals between India and Sri Lanka, will be played in reverse order, with the tourists kicking off their tour in Lucknow with the T20Is.
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The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) will be the host to the first T20I on February 24 followed by the second and third on February 26 and 27 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala. Both UPCA and HPCA officials confirmed the schedule.
The first Test of the series, which could be the 100th match of Virat Kohli in the format, will be played in Mohali from March 3 to 7. The second Test and final Test will be in Bangalore from March 12 to 16.
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Also, there is no confirmation whether the second Test in Bengaluru will be a day-night, pink ball affair. Neither the Indian team management nor the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) seems to have confirmed information.
"We don't know if it is a day-night Test. All we know is it will be from March 12 to 16," a KSCA official said.
As per the original itinerary, the series would have started with a Test in Bangalore followed by another Test and a T20I in Mohali with the last two T20Is in Dharamsala and Lucknow.
Though there is no date finalized for the selection committee meeting ahead of the Sri Lanka series, it is expected that the Chetan Sharma-led committee will appoint Rohit Sharma as the new India Test captain.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
