No one expected Bangladesh to defeat Pakistan. But the Tigers have stunned not only Shan Masood and co. but the whole cricket world as they claimed their first-ever Test win over Pakistan. This victory won’t just trouble fans in Pakistan but in India as well. In less than a month, Bangladesh will tour India for a 2-match Test series. Although Shakib Al Hasan’s participation is uncertain, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s team could still be a force to be reckoned with.
Bangladesh’s scary spinners
The fact that Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan got seven wickets in two session on a not-so-spin-friendly Rawalpindi track is something to keep in mind. Shakib might not be there, but Bangladesh’s best Test spinner, Taijul Islam, would be a sure-shot starter.
Taijul didn’t play the Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test, but as their highest wicket-taker in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 cycle, he’ll surely find himself playing in Chennai on September 19. Mehidy Hasan has been equally good, and given how well finger spinners do in India, the lefty and righty duo can do very well in the IND vs BAN Test series.
WTC 2023-25 bowling record
| Bowler | Inns | Wkts | Avg | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taijul Islam | 8 | 18 | 29.5 | 3.12 | 56.66 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 9 | 18 | 31.05 | 3.06 | 60.83 |
India’s recent spin woes
It isn’t just the Bangladeshi spinner’s prowess that can cause trouble, but also the Indian batter’s performance. In the recently concluded India vs Sri Lanka ODIs, the Men in Blue batters struggled. Captain Rohit Sharma was the best player for India, and he averaged just 31.7. Virat Kohli scored just 58 runs and averaged 13.33 against the spinners. Other big names, like current white-ball vice-captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, averaged 16.5 and 14, respectively.
Kohli and Rohit, India’s best batters of the last decade, have had some issues with spin. In India, both modern greats averaged over 55 against all forms of spin in Test cricket. However, that has changed since 2020. Kohli’s overall average is still 57, but in the last four years, it’s been just 30.26. Rohit’s performance has seen a dip from 55.8 to 41.37 as well, but it’s still good when comparing it to Kohli’s drop-off.
Rohit-Kohli’s record vs spin since 2020
| Batter | Inns | Runs | Out | Avg | Career Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli (overall) | 31 | 680 | 21 | 32.38 | 57.7 |
| Virat Kohli (in India) | 17 | 454 | 15 | 30.26 | 57 |
| Rohit Sharma (overall) | 32 | 810 | 20 | 40.5 | 49.4 |
| Rohit Sharma (in India) | 22 | 662 | 16 | 41.37 | 55.8 |
How’ll the pitches play in IND vs BAN Tests?
In the last Test series India played against England, the pitches were more or less neutral. They weren’t neither lifeless nor the kind of surface that saw matches end in 7-8 sessions. Will that trend continue in the IND vs BAN Test series? That’s unsure. With Gautam Gambhir taking charge as India’s head coach, it’ll be interesting to see what approach he takes. Will we revert to big turners or opt for surfaces that aid batters and bowlers alike?
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