As India and Bangladesh prepare for the second Test, the spotlight is firmly on the conditions at Kanpur and how both teams will approach their playing XIs. After a comprehensive victory by India in the first Test, Bangladesh faces an uphill battle, having been outclassed by both India’s batters and bowlers. Despite an encouraging start in Chennai, where they had India struggling at 144 for 6, Bangladesh faltered and ended up losing by a massive 280 runs.
With the upcoming Test at Kanpur, the Tigers will need to improve significantly to avoid another defeat, but the unpredictable weather and pitch conditions may add a new layer of complexity to their game plan.
Pitch and Weather: Slow, low surface on cards
The Kanpur pitch is expected to be a crucial factor in the second Test. Unlike the red-soil surface in Chennai, which had a decent bounce, the black-soil pitch in Kanpur is anticipated to be flatter with lower bounce. This may favour spinners as the game progresses, but rain in the forecast could alter conditions, making the pitch slower and potentially impacting team strategies.
The weather forecast indicates the possibility of rain over the first three days, which could also influence the toss decision and the composition of the teams.
Given these factors, both India and Bangladesh are pondering the inclusion of three spinners to make the most of the conditions.
India conundrum: Three spinners or two?
India has a variety of spin options to choose from but will need to decide whether to go with three spinners in this match. Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin are almost certain to play, but the third spinner could be a toss-up between Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep, who has the advantage of playing on his home ground, might be the preferred choice if the pitch is expected to offer turn from the start.
Bangladesh strategy: Can Shakib Al Hasan lead charge?
Bangladesh, led by Shakib Al Hasan, will also need to reconsider their strategy after the Chennai defeat. Shakib, who struggled with his fitness and workload in the first Test, could benefit from the inclusion of another spinner to share the load.
Taijul Islam is likely to come in for Nahid Rana, giving Bangladesh an additional spin option to exploit the slow conditions in Kanpur.
Players to watch: Shubman Gill and Shakib Al Hasan
India’s Shubman Gill will be keen to carry his form from the first Test, where he scored a fluent 119 in the second innings. With tougher opponents like New Zealand and Australia on the horizon, Gill will be looking to solidify his place in the Indian Test line-up ahead of the major challenges to come.
Shakib Al Hasan, as always, remains a key player for Bangladesh. With question marks over his workload, all eyes will be on the all-rounder to see if he can inspire his team to put up a stronger fight in Kanpur.
Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli on verge of key milestones
Ravindra Jadeja is just one wicket away from joining the elite club of Indian players with 300 Test wickets. Once he reaches this milestone, Jadeja will also become only the second-fastest player in history to achieve the double of 3000 Test runs and 300 wickets, following in the footsteps of Ian Botham.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is 129 runs short of 9000 Test runs, a milestone he will be eager to reach during this series.
Will Weather or spin dominate?
With weather and pitch conditions in focus, the second Test promises to be an intriguing contest. India will aim to seal the series, while Bangladesh will hope to bounce back with a more competitive performance. The inclusion of extra spinners on both sides could be the key to success, making this a tactical battle as much as a test of skill.
