GALLE, Sri Lanka, July 26, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bat in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday after his side named all-rounder Hardik Pandya to make his debut.
The match is the first of three Tests in Sri Lanka, as India seek to
reinforce their domination of Test cricket.
Opening batsman Lokesh Rahul was ruled out of the game with a viral fever so Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund start the batting for India.
Left-handed batsman Danushka Gunathilaka makes his Test debut for Sri Lanka. The 26-year-old helped beat India at the Champions Trophy in June and was top-scorer in the recent one day games against Zimbabwe.
India
Shikhar Dhawan, Abhinav Mukund, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav
Sri Lanka
Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Angelo Manthews, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath (capt), Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara