India will be playing against Bangladesh in Chennai, after their successive 2-0-series win over Pakistan, followed by the second and final Test of the series in Kanpur next week.

Akashdeep To Be The Third Seamer For Team India?

One of India’s main headaches into the series will be their bowling approach. The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is likely to throw up a red-soil pitch that has a ruling advantage for the pace bowler, and India may opt for a 3-2 bowling combination. It could mean Akash Deep, who pulled off a match-winning nine-wicket haul in the Duleep Trophy last month and impressed everyone on Test debut against England earlier this year, will be playing as the third seamer.

India are likely to remain with almost the same approach which they followed in 2019 when they batted on the similar pitches against Bangladesh, that later saw the rare appearance of the spinners, while they bowl mostly. In that series, the spinners managed to get a meager five wickets, and Ravindra Jadeja bowled only 19 overs in those two games.

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Axar Patel Likely To Sit Out In The 1st Test

But so far, the report by PTI has claimed that the captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir will go with 2-3 bowling combination. That would be three spinners-Ashwin, Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav-and then would have to hand the pace bowling responsibilities to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. That would also mean Axar Patel, who had been pivotal for India’s T20 World Cup win and has looked sensational in the Duleep Trophy will be sitting out in the first Test.

Rishabh Pant Picked Over Dhruv Jurel

Youngster Dhruv Jurel, who had gone in so strong on Test debut earlier in the year against England, coming out so strongly from Ranchi – and winning the Player of the Match award for India – will find himself losing his place for the opening Test against Bangladesh to Rishabh Pant. Pant last played Test cricket in December 2022, before his horrific car accident.

India’s Batting Lineup

The batting order should still look pretty straightforward with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal likely to be the openers. Then comes Shubman Gill at No. 3 and Virat Kohli at No. 4. KL Rahul is likely to be picked at No. 5 as he does have experience. Sarfaraz Khan, who found it hard to make an impact during his outings in the Duleep Trophy recently, seems likely to miss out.

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IND Vs BAN- Squad Details

The first Test against Bangladesh will start from September 19 and it will be held at MA Chidambaram Stadium , Chennai.

India (1st Test): Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Md. Siraj, Akash Deep, Yash Dayal

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicket-keeper), Litton Kumer Das (wk), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Jaker Ali Anik