The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the first Test match India vs Bangladesh. The match is set to begin on September 19, 2024. This announcement is significant, especially with the return of Rishabh Pant. He has been out of Test cricket for nearly 20 months due to a car accident.
Rohit Sharma will lead the team as captain. The squad features experienced players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. Both are expected to play key roles in the series. Bumrah returns after resting following the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
The selection committee has chosen a mix of youth and experience. Young pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal have received their first call-ups. Dayal has impressed in domestic cricket and adds depth to the pace attack alongside Siraj and Bumrah.
Notably, Shreyas Iyer is absent from the squad. He has struggled with form and fitness recently. His exclusion highlights the fierce competition for spots in the middle order. Sarfaraz Khan, however, retains his place after a strong debut series against England.
The Indian bowling lineup is spin-heavy, featuring four spinners: Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep. This choice reflects the team’s strategy to exploit home conditions, especially in Chennai. The balance between pace and spin will be crucial against a Bangladesh side that recently beat Pakistan 2-0 in a Test series.
As the series approaches, attention will be on how India handles Bangladesh’s bowling attack. The upcoming Test series is a chance for Pant and Bumrah to regain their form.
The first Test will be followed by a second match at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1. Fans are eager to see how this new Indian squad performs against their neighbors.
India Squad for 1st test match vs Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yash Dayal.
Head-to-Head record between India vs Bangladesh in Test cricket
| Format | Matches Played | India Wins | Bangladesh Wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 |