India's predicted playing XI for the 1st Test vs Bangladesh | September 19, 2024
Team India are all set to lock horns with Bangladesh in a two-match Test series on home soil. The opening encounter will commence at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, September 19.
The hosts have assembled a strong squad for the rubber, with Mohammed Shami being the only high-profile absentee. Rishabh Pant's return to the highest level of red-ball cricket is the major storyline, and he will no doubt slot into the middle order.
India’s squad for the 1st Test of the Bangladesh series: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.
On that note, here is India's predicted playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh.
Openers: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal
Picking India's opening combination is a straightforward task. Both Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been in excellent form lately, with the latter notching up big hundreds one after another. Rohit will also want to get stuck in and occupy the crease for long periods.
Middle order: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja
Midway through India's last Test assignment against England, it seemed like Shubman Gill's No. 3 spot was in danger. However, the youngster managed to seal it with a few clutch knocks and is now expected to reprise that role.
Virat Kohli is nailed down at No. 4, and Pant could bat on either side of him and KL Rahul, who is likely to pip Sarfaraz Khan to a specialist batting spot in the middle order.
Ravindra Jadeja is arguably India's most valuable Test player at home and will look to do what he does best - score big runs and take loads of wickets.
Lower order: Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Ravichandran Ashwin will get another chance to play in front of his adoring home crowd in Chennai, and the number of left-handers in the Bangladesh side will have him licking his lips.
India have a choice to make regarding their third spinner, with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav offering contrasting skillsets. The former's superior batting ability has been preferred at times in the past, but the latter is such a big threat with the ball that it would be hard to leave him out. While this could go either way, Kuldeep might have a slight edge.
Akash Deep has done himself no harm with his recent displays. The Bengal seamer has an outside chance to be preferred ahead of Mohammed Siraj, whose inconsistency has hurt India at times lately. But for now, Siraj is expected to be the man to partner the inimitable Jasprit Bumrah.