Fantasy Cricket Tips: After a clean-sweep in the T20Is, India, under the new Test captain Rohit Sharma, will want to continue with their winning momentum as they host Sri Lanka for two Tests, the first of which starts on Friday in Mohali.
Sri Lanka can take the confidence from the fact that they are coming off twin Test series wins over West Indies and Bangladesh and India from a series loss to South Africa. However, India at home is a different gravy: India haven’t lost a home Test series for 9 years, and have been defeated in just 2 Tests in this period. Further, the PCA Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for India: they have not lost a single Test here since 1997.
So, if you are looking to win on Dream11 fantasy cricket, make the best XI on Dream11, you will have to go with the maximum possible players from the Indian team.
The Mohali Test is also the 100th Test for Virat Kohli, who would be hoping to break his century drought.
Talking about the surface, the pitch in Mohali over the last couple of years has been good for batting throughout the game and spinners make much more impact in the second half of the game. The average first innings score in the last 5 Tests at the PCA Stadium is 355.
Expected playing XIs:
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Lahiru Thirimanne, Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Jeffrey Vandersay
Fantasy cricket tips: Dushmantha Chameera has had a dominant record over Rohit Sharma in white-ball cricket, so making Sharma the captain of your fantasy team would be risky; Virat Kohli, who looked in great touch and control in South Africa, is the safest captaincy option, with either Ashwin or Jadeja as vice-captain. Agarwal is a beast in home conditions.
Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya remains the key bowler for Sri Lanka as India have five right-handers in their batting. Kuldeep Yadav could be your X-factor.
Dream XI Fantasy cricket team for India-Sri Lanka first Test:
Wicket-keeper: Rishabh Pant
Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli(c), Lahiru Thirimanne
All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin(vc), Dhananjaya de Silva
Bowlers: Suranga Lakmal, Mohammed Shami, Lasith Embuldeniya
