Bangladesh opts to bowl in surprising start to India’s home Test season

CHENNAI: In an unexpected turn of events at the start of India’s home Test season, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first in the opening match of their two-Test series against India. This decision marks the first time in five years that a visiting team has chosen to field first in a Test match in India.

The match, which kickstarts the World Test Championship campaign for both teams, is being played under overcast skies in Chennai. The weather conditions, combined with a slightly soft pitch, seem to have influenced Bangladesh’s decision. Interestingly, Indian captain Rohit Sharma revealed that his team would have made the same choice had they won the toss.

Both teams have opted for a pace-heavy attack, fielding three fast bowlers each. The pitch, made of red soil, is expected to offer good bounce initially and turn as the match progresses.

For India, this match marks the return of several key players to Test cricket. Rishabh Pant is playing his first Test since his serious car accident at the end of 2022, while KL Rahul makes a comeback in the middle order. Virat Kohli, who last played a Test in early January, will be looking to make an impact.

Bangladesh, riding high on their recent series win against Pakistan, have retained the same XI that secured that historic victory. They will be hoping to capitalise on any rustiness in the Indian camp, as the hosts haven’t played a Test match in over six months.

While India starts as overwhelming favourites, sitting atop the World Test Championship points table with a percentage of 68.52, Bangladesh’s recent form cannot be overlooked. The visitors have achieved several firsts in recent years, including their maiden Test win against New Zealand in 2022 and their first-ever Test series win against Pakistan last month.

As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on how India’s potentially rusty batting lineup fares against Bangladesh’s formidable spin trio of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan, and Taijul Islam.

With both teams fielding strong lineups and the conditions adding an element of unpredictability, cricket fans can look forward to an exciting start to this Test series.

Teams

India: Rohit Sharma (capt.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt.), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana