India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017: Visitors To Face Their Biggest Home Season Challenge
The Virat Kohli-led squad is all set to embark on its first overseas Test series for India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017 and it is going to be one hell of a tour for Indian players as they will have the opportunity to play in similar conditions as the ones they witnessed during the home season.
However, India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017 is not just about Test cricket as 5 ODIs & 1 T20I will also be played between the two teams. While India will be looking to carry on the momentum from the West Indies tour, Sri Lanka will not leave a single stone unturned to dress the wounds they suffered against Zimbabwe.
Indian selectors have made some big calls while announcing the 16-man squad which will take on the Lions in the 3-Match Test series as Karun Nair was dropped in favor of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan has replaced an injured Murali Vijay while KL Rahul is making a comeback after his shoulder injury.
Which opening combination will India go in with, remains to be seen as Abhinav Mukund, who is making a comeback after almost 6 years, was chosen as the third opener in the squad while Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will now be the safest bet for India.
Here Is The Full Squad For India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017 (Tests)
Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane (vice captain), Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, W Saha (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, M Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.
While the Sri Lankan team has not yet announced the squad for India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017, the board is expected to come up with some changes in their current squad that has been playing against Zimbabwe.
India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017 is the first full series, involving all three formats, between the two teams in the last eight years and it is safe to expect some neck-to-neck cricket during this more than a month-long tour.
India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017 Schedule
Warm-up matches
21st July at 10 AM (IST)
22nd July at 10 AM (IST)
Test series
1st Test: 26 to 30 July in Kandy at 10 AM (IST)
2nd Test: 4 to 8 August in Galle at 10 AM (IST)
3rd Test: 12 to 16 August in Colombo at 10 AM (IST)
ODI series
1st ODI: 20th August in Colombo at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium) at 2:30 PM (IST)
2nd ODI: 24th August in Dambulla at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium) at 2:30 PM (IST)
3rd ODI: 27th August at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium at 2:30 PM (IST)
4th ODI: 30th August at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium at 2:30 PM (IST)
5th ODI: 3rd September in Colombo at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium) at 2:30 PM (IST)
One-Off T20I
6th September in Colombo at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium) at 7:00 PM (IST)
India won both the Test as well as ODI series when they last toured Sri Lanka in 2015. However, when it comes to overall record, India has played a total of 20 tests in Sri Lanka out of which they have managed to win in just 6 matches while the visitors claimed 7 victories, eight Tests being resulting in draws.
As for the ODIs, Sri Lanka has hosted India for 22 matches, out of which India have won in just 9 encounters while the visitors emerged victorious in 19 games.
India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017 will also be the first series for the No.1 Test team with a new head coach, Ravi Shastri, and the former cricketer would want his team to begin the decimation for becoming the Champions of Champions in 2019.
Stay tuned for more updates on India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017.