IND BAN Pitch Report: Chattogram Pitch Report: Team India skipper KL Rahul and coach Rahul Dravid have a huge selection question ahead of Chattogram Test. As the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram has historically favoured spinners, India could be tempted to use three spinners and 2 seamers. With Ravichandran Ashwin set to lead the spin attack, Dravid and Rahul have to take a call on the other bowlers. Follow IND vs BAN 1st Test Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
Despite bringing in Jaydev Unadkat, it’s unlikely that he will get a chance in the 1st Test. Instead, experienced Umesh Yadav will lead along with Mohammed Siraj. Shardul Thakur is set to be the lone seam-bowling all-rounder. But that leaves space for only one spinner other than Ashwin.
IND BAN Pitch Report: 3 spinners or 3 seamers? KL Rahul & Rahul Dravid’s BIG Headache for Chattogram Test, Follow IND vs BAN 1st Test LIVE Updates
Chattogram Pitch Report: A heaven for spinners, the surface offers turn from Day 1 3rd session as the ball gets old. With Bangladesh also using red Kookaburra balls, it will have some assistance for seamers with the new ball. The Chattogram Pitch also has fair amount of grass left. That could be the biggest hesitance for India.
Of late, India have focused more on a balance of three seamers and two spinners in subcontinent. That may be the way forward.
Chattogram Records: The opening test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram will be played on Wednesday, December 14. In the past, India and Bangladesh have faced each other thrice at this very venue and India has managed to win two matches and also had one draw. The same venue hosted ODI match between the two teams which was a high-scoring encounter.
However, the test format is a different ball game altogether. The last five matches at the venue have witnessed away sides winning three matches while one match got cancelled. The last match at this venue was between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ended in a draw.
Trophy unveiling of Bangladesh vs India Test Series.#BCB | #Cricket | #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/NE5HqxW4Wj
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) December 12, 2022
India looks to keep their unbeaten run intact against Bangladesh
With Rohit Sharma out of the 1st Test, KL Rahul will be leading the team in the 1st Test. He will have the responsibility to keep the unbeaten record intact. Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin and Cheteshwar Pujara make their return to the side. For Pujara this series will be a do-or-die affair as he will be under pressure to pile runs. India will bank on veteran R Ashwin to display his magic with the ball as he approaches Anil Kumble’s 450 Test wicket record.
Bangladesh’s confidence will be boosted after registering ODI series win against India. Shakib Al Hasan enjoys bowling at Chattogram and the onus will be on the skipper to deliver with the ball yet again. Shakib will have the company of Mehidy Hasan Miraz as second spinner. Mehidy’s confidence will be sky high following an outstanding series against India. He will look to continue his all-round performance in the two match series as well.
India’s updated squad for Bangladesh Tests: KL Rahul (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat
Bangladesh squad: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Zakir Hasan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Anamul Haque
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