Bangladesh’s Indian ‘Test’ to begin Wednesday
Bangladesh face India in the first of two Tests from Wednesday hoping to avoid a bulldozing from the visitors and win some much-needed ICC Championship points.
The visitors have injury woes with captain Rohit Sharma out for at least the first match in Chattogram and fast bowler Mohammed Shami and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja playing no part in the series.
Bangladesh will also be buoyed after winning the One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1 in a further demonstration of India’s white-ball frailties ahead of hosting next year’s 50-over World Cup.
The five-day games are part of the ICC World Test Championship.
Bangladesh are in last place with one win and one draw from their 10 matches. They have also not won a Test at home since February 2020 and have never beaten India anywhere in Tests.
India, on the other hand, are fourth behind Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, having won six of their 12 matches.
The current cycle runs from July 2021 to June 2023 and comprises the top nine Test teams, all of whom will play six series each, three at home and three away.
The top two will compete in the final at the Oval in London.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh are struggling with injuries, with opener Tamim Iqbal ruled out of the first Test after failing to recover from a groin injury.
Uncapped batsman Zakir Hasan, who impressed in the recent shadow Test series against India A, has been called up as Tamim’s replacement for the first Test.
“I think the country tends to enjoy white-ball cricket. We have had a lot of success at home in ODI cricket,” said fielding coach Shane McDermott.
But he added that it was a “challenge” to play Tests, although the “overall attitude has generally improved”.
Over at the Indian camp, Rohit hurt his thumb in the second ODI and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said Sunday that they will take a call on his fitness for the second Test in Dhaka at a later stage.
KL Rahul will lead the team in the first Test with Cheteshwar Pujara as his deputy. Uncapped batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran was named as Rohit’s replacement.
Left-arm fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat, who played his only Test in 2010, has also been added to the 17-member squad.
“There are a few injury concerns but that gives opportunity to (other) guys,” Rahul said.
Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Zakir Hasan, Rejaur Rahman, Anamul Haque.
India: KL Rahul (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat