India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Probable Playing XI - A Change In Batting Lineup

IND v SL: The first test match between India and Sri Lanka will be a historic one for Virat Kohli as he will step out on the test jersey to play his 100th test. Interestingly, Kohli will also play his first test as a regular player after 2015 since Rohit Sharma will be leading the side for the first time in his Test career. 

With the arrival of Rohit as the test captain, two major changes that the Indian team has done is not selecting two stalwarts of Indian cricket - Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. The sacking of two veterans means two vacant spots in the batting lineup - number three and four. 

There is a good chance that the first two players who will sit at the vacant spots will be Shubman Gill and Hanuma Vihari. If the team requires someone to do a job that Pujara did so well in so many years - holding the crease at one end - then India might go with Vihari, who has a solid defence. 

Gill is someone who tries to play shots like Rahane used to do batting at number five. The other player who will be eyeing a spot is Shreyas Iyer, who is in great form as well. Iyer scored a century on his test debut, making it too hard to drop him due to the caliber he has. 

Rohit Sharma will be back as an opener after missing out in the South Africa test series, where he was deeply missed. Mayank Agarwal will come out to partner him at the top in the absence of KL Rahul. 

The lower middle order will consist of Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and R Ashwin. The spin duo might also get another partner with them in the form of Jayant Yadav or Kuldeep Yadav as India might go with two pacers only on a subcontinent pitch. 

Jasprit Bumrah will be the second name written in the playing XI list after Rohit. Mohammad Siraj or Mohammad Shami will be the other pacer. India might try Siraj to partner with Bumrah for the first test. 

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India Probable Playing XI - Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj/Mohammad Shami