It will all become a landmark test for Indian cricket when they take on Sri Lanka in the series opener in Mohali from Friday. While former captain Virat Kohli will be in his 100th Test, Rohit Sharma will lead India in a Test match for the first time in his distinguished career.
With fans up to 50 percent utilization be allowed in the PCA Stadium At Mohali, Virat Kohli’s landmark test will have a celebratory outlook. PCA officials have said the Kohli will be congratulated by the national association and BCCI officials have also been invited to the Test which starts the 2 Test series against Sri Lanka.
Virat Kohli has his eye on a few key milestones as usual as he is just 38 runs away from becoming the 6th Indian batsman to score 8000 runs in Test cricket. He also has the opportunity to complete 8000 runs as the fifth fastest in the country.
Kohli will follow Sachin Tendulkar (15921), Rahul Dravid (13288), Sunil Gavaskar (10122), VVS Laxman (8781) and Virender Sehwag (8586) to break the 8000 run mark.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli needs 237 runs to overtake head coach Dravid on the list of most runs scored by Indian batters against Sri Lanka in home Tests.
Kohli has an impressive record against Sri Lanka as he has scored 610 runs including 3 hundred in just 3 home Tests. Kohli has scores of 0, 104 (Calcutta 2017), 213 (Nagpur 2017) and 243 and 50 (Delhi 2017) against the islanders.
Given his record against Sri Lanka, it would come as no surprise if Kohli ends the two-year wait for his 71st scorer in the upcoming series.
MOST RUNS FOR INDIA VS SRI LANKA IN HOME TESTS
Rahul Dravid – 846 in 8 games – 2 hundreds
Sachin Tendulkar – 840 in 13 games – 4 hundred
Mohammad Azharuddin – 648 in 8 games – 3 hundreds
Virat Kohli – 610 in 3 games – 3 hundreds
Kohli also needs 61 runs to overtake former captain Sourav Ganguly on the list of Indian batsmen with the most runs against Sri Lanka in Tests.
MOST RUNS IN TESTS FOR INDIA VS SRI LANKA
Sachin Tendulkar – 1995 in 25 games
Rahul Dravid – 1508 runs in 20 games
Virender Sehwag – 1239 runs in 11 games
Mohammad Azharuddin – 1215 runs in 17 games
Sourav Ganguly – 1064 runs in 14 games
Virat Kohli – 1004 runs in 9 games
R ASHWIN PASSES CAPIL DEV
Meanwhile, veteran off-spinner R Ashwin, who appears to have recovered from an injury that kept him away from the limited-overs after the South African tour, needs just 5 wickets to pass Kapil Dev and the to become the second most successful Indian bowler in Test cricket.
While R Ashwin has 430 wickets in 84 Tests, Kapil Dev finished 434 scalps in 131 Tests. Anil Kumble tops the list with 619 wickets in 132 tests.
