IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Buoyant Bangladesh Look to Exploit India’s Rustiness

India is gearing up for a gruelling Test season with a series of ten matches scheduled over the next three and a half months, starting with a two-Test series against Bangladesh. The Indian team, which has been out of Test action for over six months, will host Bangladesh in Chennai on September 19 for the first of the two encounters.

India’s home record in Test cricket is formidable, having lost only four matches at home in the last decade and not losing a series in nearly 12 years. Bangladesh, however, have struggled in India, suffering heavy defeats in all three of their previous Tests on Indian soil. They have yet to secure a Test victory against India in 13 attempts.

Despite this, Bangladesh have shown significant improvement. They achieved historic wins against New Zealand in early 2022 and Pakistan last month, securing their first Test win over the latter and clinching their first away series victory in over three years. While Bangladesh have traditionally found it challenging to perform overseas, they have managed four of their eight away Test wins since 2021.

India, ranked at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table with a percentage of 68.52, are strong favourites for the series. However, the team faces the challenge of coming off a lengthy break, with key players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant returning to Test cricket after significant absences. Recent vulnerabilities against quality spin bowling could be tested by Bangladesh’s trio of spinners: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam.

The opening Test in Chennai will be played on a red-soil pitch, which is expected to provide bounce and carry for both fast bowlers and spinners. However, the pitch may deteriorate under Chennai’s intense heat, likely favouring spinners as the match progresses. An excessive heat warning is in place, with temperatures expected to reach the mid to high 30s Celsius.