India vs Sri Lanka- First Test Squads, Preview, and Predictions

Ashwin, India’s most successful Test bowler in recent times, believes Shastri will have a positive impact on the team. I think it was quite a helpful wicket, but the set-up was very good. While on tougher tours, words like “challenge” and “big effort” dominate the pre-series talk, here, they have spoken of respecting the opposition.

“We understand what he brings to the table and we understand what needs to be done”, Kohli said. We’re starting another new series and need to start well. But at the same time, we’ll have to look at different abilities of both teams. We have built a really good base for us as a team to be able to do that consistently over the next few years.

The Karnataka-opener was just returning to the worldwide arena after recuperating from a shoulder injury that kept him out of action since March, when he was laid low again after the two-day practice match in Colombo. We can also expect several rain delays and disruptions.

“I am taking it series by series and match by match”, he said and about the successor, he explained: “If you take Malinda Pushpakumara’s First Class career, he has taken more than 500 wickets”. Looking into their team it has been jolted by an injury to their skipper Dinesh Chandimal. “In the next two Tests on that 2015 tour, we played an all-rounder (Binny) and that made all the difference”. If he takes seven more wickets here, he will become only the second bowler after Muttiah Muralitharan to take over 100 Test wickets at a single venue.

“Very important”, Kohli said when asked about the need to have multiple bowling options.

Talking about Sri Lankan attack, the discussions veered towards veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. But we haven’t taken a decision whether to play or not Malinda for tomorrow’s game.

“We got great balance in the side”. In his first series as full-time captain, Virat Kohli had steered India Men to a 2-1 victory against Sri Lanka Men – their first win on Sri Lankan soil in 22 years. The visitors had collapsed to 112 while chasing 176, with Chandimal and Herath playing a handsome role in that win. Prior to that, the top-ranked side in the world had beaten West Indies in the Caribbean which had been the onset of Anil Kumble’s reign as the coach of the Indian team. Dhawan played the last of his 23 Tests against New Zealand in Kolkata in late September previous year, before a finger injury in that game, and then subsequent bad form, saw him lose his place in the side. This will be the first assignment under Ravi Shastri and the coach and captain would want to start their innings with the ideal performance on the field to dispell all the negativity which engulfed the entire coach appointment process. “So, our players look at these scenarios as opportunities and it is a great opportunity for Abhinav or Shikhar to string in strong performances again”, said the skipper.