Virat Kohli's 100th Test is set to be played at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali and not in Bangalore as was earlier planned. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has been the virtual home ground for Kohli because of his 14-year association with the local IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore.The first Test will now be played in Mohali, with the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has now upgraded its floodlights, set to host the tour-ending pink-ball Test.On the other hand, Dharamsala is likely to open the tour with the first two T20Is before the teams move to Mohali for the final game.
It has been learnt that the board is reluctant to schedule the day-night Test in Mohali owing to fog and heavy dew in northern India in winters. Another reason for the change as per a Karnataka State Cricket Association official is Bengaluru offers direct connectivity to Colombo, which would then allow Sri Lanka to fly home without a stopover.Reluctant for long to host pink-ball Tests, the BCCI has organised only two pink ball Test matches in India till now.India hosted their first-ever day-night Test match in 2019 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata against Bangladesh while Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad hosted the second pink-ball affair against England last year. India won both Tests inside three days.
