IND vs SL: Mohali to host Virat Kohli's 100th Test, T20I series to begin on February 24

Former India skipper Virat Kohli will play his landmark 100th Test at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali. According to the earlier schedule announced, Bangalore, Kohli’s home ground when he plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for RCB, was set to host his 100th Test. It has also been understood that the T20I series will begin Sri Lanka’s tour of India.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had reportedly requested the BCCI to start the tour with T20 Internationals. The team is currently in Australia to play five T20Is from February 11 and will be reaching directly from down under. As far as the new schedule is concerned, the fixtures will exactly be played in the reverse order compared to what was earlier announced.

According to Cricbuzz, the T20I series will begin in Lucknow on February 24 while the second and third match will take place in Dharamsala on February 26 and 27.

Test series to start from March 3

From Dharamsala, team India and Sri Lanka will move to Punjab to play the first Test of the two-match series which will also be Virat Kohli’s 100th in the format. Though BCCI has not formally announced the schedule, Mohali is likely to host the first Test from March 3 to March 7 unless there are changes at the last minute.

The second and final Test then will be played in Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium which will reportedly be played with the pink ball under the lights. However, the Indian team management or even the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) have not officially confirmed anything.

“We don’t know if it is a day-night Test. All we know is it will be from March 12 to 16,” a KSCA official said even as a formal communication from the BCCI is yet to come. It remains to be seen when the BCCI formally announces the schedule for Sri Lanka’s tour of India.

Sri Lanka’s tour of India Schedule:

1st T20I – February 24, Lucknow

2nd T20I – February 26, Dharamsala

3rd T20I – February 27, Dharamsala

1st Test – March 3 – March 7, Mohali

2nd Test – March 12 – March 16, Bangalore