Rohit Sharma begins a new era as India's Test captain on Friday when the two-match series against Sri Lanka begins, as predecessor Virat Kohli makes a landmark 100th appearance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit is now in charge across all formats, succeeding Kohli who drove India up the world rankings but failed to lift any international silverware.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit, 34, reasserted his white-ball leadership credentials with a 3-0 Twenty20 sweep of Sri Lanka on Sunday that gave India a record-equalling 12th straight win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Batsman Shreyas Iyer lauded the new captain for his hands-on approach with players ahead of the match in Mohali.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He is amazing. He thinks from a player's point of view," Iyer told the Times of India newspaper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He has got that mindset, where he connects to every individual and knows what he needs from support staff and coaches. I really respect him a lot."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The spotlight though will be on "King Kohli" who shocked fans when he quit as Test skipper following his 99th Test at the end of India's 2-1 series loss in South Africa in January.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The star batsman, who stepped down as Twenty20 skipper last year and was then sacked as ODI leader, led India to great heights including a stay at the top of the Test rankings for over three years.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Kohli's inability to win a global trophy for a cricket-obsessed India seemed to be his undoing as leader and Rohit was an obvious successor, having led Mumbai Indians to a record five IPL titles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At least fans will be allowed to see Kohli's milestone after the Punjab cricket association backtracked to allow crowds of up to 50 percent capacity in Mohali despite Covid-19 fears in the northern city.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India's new vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, one of several possible younger successors to Rohit, said a win over Sri Lanka would be a perfect "gift" for Kohli.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's a testimony of his hard work, of his dedication to play 100 Test matches for your country. So it's a great occasion," India's vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah told reporters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He added that despite no longer being captain, and being short of runs in recent months, Kohli "will contribute a lot in the future as well".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iyer will be in contention for a place in the Test eleven after his three successive unbeaten half-centuries led India's T20 dominance in the Twenty20 series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka sit at the top of the ICC Test championship points table with a 2-0 series sweep of West Indies after depending on their spinners in Galle, but the slow bowlers will not find it easy against India's solid batting line-up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India also possess a potent spin attack and Sri Lanka's batsmen such as captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva will be challenged by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja operating on their home turf.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Dimuth Karunaratne is one of the best Test openers and he is going to be crucial up the order," Sri Lanka's cricketer-turned-commentator Russel Arnold was quoted as saying by cricket.com.<\/p>\r\n\r\n