Rohit Sharma's Test captaincy has started off with India thumping Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs in Mohali to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Rohit has thus become the first player since Polly Umrigar in December 1955 to lead India to an innings victory in his first match as Test captain. India were dominant throughout the match with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin's all-round performances being the highlight of the Test.
Rohit was announced as Test captain as the squad for the two-Test series was announced after Virat Kohli stepped down in January. The first Test in Mohali also marked Kohli's 100th appearance in the longest format and Rohit ensured that the former got a guard of honour from his team mates when they entered the field on Day 2.
Umrigar, who captained India in eight Test matches, led them to a victory by an innings and 27 runs over New Zealand at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai in 1955.
On Sunday, Jadeja and Ashwin both took four wickets as Indian dismissed Sri Lanka for 178 runs. Jadeja had taken five in the first innings in addition to scoring an unbeaten 175 during India's innings. He was thus left one wicket away from becoming the first-ever player in the history of Test cricket to take 10 wickets and score a 150 in the same match.
{{/usCountry}}On Sunday, Jadeja and Ashwin both took four wickets as Indian dismissed Sri Lanka for 178 runs. Jadeja had taken five in the first innings in addition to scoring an unbeaten 175 during India's innings. He was thus left one wicket away from becoming the first-ever player in the history of Test cricket to take 10 wickets and score a 150 in the same match.
{{/usCountry}}Ashwin, meanwhile, scored 61 runs as part of a 130-run stand with Jadeja, which was also India's highest partnership of the match. While Jadeja had returned figures of 5/41 in the first Sri Lankan innings, Ashwin recorded 2/49. Ashwin ended the second innings with 4/47 while Jadeja returned 4/46.
The series now moves to Bengaluru where the second and final match of the series will be played from March 12. It will be a day-night pink-ball Test match, the third India have hosted having played their first Kolkata against Bangladesh in 2019 and their second against England in Ahmedabad in 2021.