Virat Kohli’s next Test match against Sri Lanka which marks his 100th in the format would be played behind closed doors, sources revealed.”First test between India and Sri Lanka will be played behind closed door with no spectator allowed,” said Punjab Cricket Association CEO Deepak Sharma.
The first Test of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka will be played in Mohali followed by M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that has been selected as the venue for the second match.
After veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, was dropped by BCCI, Kohli emereged as a suggestion for replacement by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. According to the cricketer turned commentator, number three position is for the best batter in the team. Kohli has been batting at number four in Tests for Team India for almost a decade now.
The Chetan Sharma-led selection committee dropped four senior players from the team as the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, and Wriddhiman Saha ahead of the match today.This is for the first time that India take the field in red-ball cricket since Virat Kohli stepped down from captaincy and will mark Rohit Sharma’s debut as captain in the whites.