The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian cricket team for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. The two teams will play two Test matches. The first Test will be held at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, starting on September 19, while the second Test will begin on September 27 in Kanpur.
Bangladesh is coming off a 2-0 series loss against Pakistan at home, but they remain confident. However, winning in India has always been a challenging task for any visiting team.
One of the major highlights of this squad is the return of Rishabh Pant. After being sidelined due to a serious car accident, Pant made a strong comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL), scoring over 400 runs. He then represented India in the T20 World Cup, though his performance there was less impactful.
However, he impressed in the Duleep Trophy while playing for India B, scoring a crucial half-century in the second innings, which helped his team secure a victory.
Pant now has a great opportunity ahead, as the BCCI has selected this squad with the future Border-Gavaskar Trophy in mind. Dhruv Rail was another wicket-keeping option after performing well against England, but the Indian selectors have placed their faith in Pant, who brings an X-factor to the team and has match-winning potential.
Pant’s Test cricket record is also impressive, having scored 2,271 runs at an average of 44 across 33 matches. His return was anticipated, and while India may not heavily rely on him against Bangladesh, they have strong expectations from the top order as well.
Shubman Gill, who was recently out of the team, now has a golden opportunity to secure his spot. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaching, Gill will want to solidify his position. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are expected to open the innings, leaving Gill to bat at number three, while Virat Kohli will follow at number four.
KL Rahul’s inclusion in the squad indicates the selectors still trust his ability to play dependable, mature innings. However, Sarfaraz Khan, another exciting player like Pant, poses a challenge for Rahul. Sarfaraz is known for his ability to score quickly and can bat in multiple positions, from four to six.
Ravindra Jadeja, who has retired from T20 cricket, remains India’s most valuable player in the Test format. His contributions with both bat and ball are unmatched, and while he may play one Test, Axar Patel could feature in the other. India will need a left-arm spinner for their tour to Australia, and both Jadeja and Axar provide stability to the team.
Another name that stands out is Yash Dayal, who has earned his place in the Indian squad. After an average IPL in 2022, Dayal’s performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) improved significantly. He has now become a skilled bowler, known for his ability to swing the ball and bowl under pressure. With India looking for a left-arm pacer, Dayal has a big opportunity, but his success will depend on how he handles the pressures of international cricket.
The return of Jasprit Bumrah is also a positive sign for India, especially with Mohammed Shami missing out due to injury. Bumrah will lead the pace attack, with Mohammed Siraj and Akashdeep expected to be the second and third pacers. It’s possible that Yash Dayal might feature in the second Test in Kanpur.
India has a strong spin bowling unit for this series, with four spinners—three left-arm and one off-spinner. Left-arm spin will be crucial for India, and either Axar Patel or Jadeja is expected to play.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who can also bowl with the new ball, adds great value to the squad. Kuldeep Yadav is another option, but considering the conditions and the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ashwin is likely to be the preferred spinner for this series.
