India make their return to Test cricket after two months with a two-Test series against Sri Lanka, the first of which begins on March 4th at Mohali.

The men’s team will have a new skipper in Rohit Sharma, who will be captaining for the first time in Test matches. Jasprit Bumrah is the team’s new vice-captain.

“My philosophy of captaincy will remain the same in Tests - stay in the present, analyse the situation and then react. I don't want to think too far ahead. We all know it is a different format,” Rohit Sharma said in his pre-match press conference.

“I just want to win matches. I want to do the right things with the squad we have. We are in a good position and over the last five years have done well. A lot of credit for that goes to Virat,” he added.

India, who are fifth in the World Test Championship Table with 49.07% points, will be aiming to climb up the table with a win against table-toppers Sri Lanka.

The BCCI allowed 50% stadium capacity for the first Test and fans will have a chance to witness history live in Mohali.

Virat Kohli’s 100th Test

The Mohali Test will be a momentous occasion for former captain Virat Kohli as he becomes the 12th Indian cricketer to play 100 Test matches - after Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sourav Ganguly, Ishant Sharma, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag.

With 7962 runs, scoring 27 centuries and 28 fifties, Virat Kohli is the sixth-highest run-getter for India in Tests and already a bonafide legend.

“It has been a brilliant journey and a long one. He has done exceedingly well and changed so many things to help the team move forward. (It has been) one hell of a ride for him,” skipper Rohit Sharma said.

Taking up Test captaincy in 2014 elevated Kohli’s batting to new levels and it will be interesting to see how he performs in this next phase of his career.

Ushering in a new era

After almost a decade, the Indian Test team will not have Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha in the squad.

It is an opportunity for the new crop of middle-order batters in Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill to stake their claim for a long-term spot in the Indian team.

KS Bharat is the new back-up wicket-keeper to Rishabh Pant, who returns after a short break he was given for the T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka look for first win in India

Sri Lanka will play a Test in India for the first time since 2017 and in their 20 Tests in India since 1982, they have not won a single match - drawing nine and losing 11. Sri Lanka also last won a Test against India in 2015.

However, the Dimuth Karunaratne-led team have been in good form lately, having won their last three Tests and are unbeaten in their last six.

Sri Lanka will hope to carry that momentum into the first Test against India.

Let’s cheer for the Indian team as they begin a new era under Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. The action begins at 9:30 AM on March 4th.