Ind vs Ban 2019, 2nd Test: India's predicted XI for the pink-ball Test
The first match of the ongoing Test series between India and Bangladesh saw the hosts crush the visitors by an innings and 130 runs. Exhibiting exceptional skill with both bat and ball, Virat Kohli's men proved too hot to handle for the Bangladeshi Tigers.
The focus has now shifted to the much-frenzied day-night Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Set to commence on 22 November, Friday, the contest will witness the pink ball get employed for the first time in an international match on Indian soil, thereby marking a memorable moment in the country's proud cricketing history.
In addition to the excitement of watching Test cricket unfold under the lights at the iconic stadium, plenty of talks have also been centred on the tentative behaviour of the pink ball. With the ball carrying more lacquer as compared to the conventional red cherry, the likelihood of pronounced seam movement has been a subject of debate. Also, as the two teams are relatively unfamiliar with the pink ball, there aren't too many insights as to how the ball would behave in Indian conditions, as Ravindra Jadeja rightly opined earlier.
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The team combination, therefore, is likely to be a key in the upcoming second Test. While Bangladesh is expected to give serious thought to its 4-bowler theory from the first Test, Virat Kohli and co. shouldn't have too many headaches while announcing the playing XI. The batsmen look to be functioning in top gear and so do the bowlers, who currently seem to be on top of the world.
Ravindra Jadeja's impressive form with the bat at number 6 has bolstered the team's balance immensely, much to the delight of the team management. The pace trio of Ishant, Umesh and, Shami, which rattled the Bangladeshi players at Indore, will be hoping to impress with the pink ball as well.
While star batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were among the few failures in the previous Test, expect them to hit back in the historic outing at the Eden Gardens.
India's predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (C), Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami