Two men with a shared mission to put India back on the top of the points table will be taking the field at Mohali with two completely different milestones on the line. While Virat Kohli will be taking the field for the hundredth time in the longest format of the game, the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma will be leading the outfit for the first time in red-ball cricket.

Talking about Virat Kohli’s 100th Test, Rohit said, “It has been [an] absolutely brilliant journey for him. A long one. To go on and play 100 Tests, it has been a wonderful journey. He has done exceedingly well in this particular format. Changed so many things in the way the team is moving forward. It has been brilliant to watch that. It has been one hell of a ride for him. It will continue to be in the years to come. We definitely want to make it a special one for him.”

“As a team, I think the series we won in Australia in 2018-19 was a very good series for us. He was the captain there. As a batter, the best memory is the century in Johannesburg in 2013. On a challenging pitch, which had a lot of bounce, and all of us were playing in South Africa for the first time. And he faced Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Philander, and Jacques Kallis… it was never going to be easy. The way he batted, got a century in the first, and scored 90-odd in the second… it was the best knock I remember. Perth 2018 was also special but I think this beats that one," he further added.

Talking about his own goals on the eve of leading Team India for the first time in Test cricket, Rohit added  “What target should I set for me? My targets are set for the team. I am not thinking about myself. I am happy with 40 [Tests]. I don't have regrets. Quite a few injuries, quite a few ups and downs, but that goes on in life and in cricket. You will never get a smooth ride in cricket. The ups and downs will teach you a lot. Now I don't have personal targets that I have to do this, I have to do that. In front of me is a big job. I am just thinking we have to do well for the team."