IND BAN Pitch Report: India vs Bangladesh 1st ODI LIVE: Rahul Dravid has a big dilemma on bowling combination ahead of the 1st ODI on Sunday. Dravid spent some time discussing the Shere Bangla Stadium pitch with the curator Gamini Silva. While the pitch has traditionally assisted slow bowlers and spinners, the Bangladesh series is about getting good preparations. India have only three spinners in their ranks with no wrist spinners in the squad. With Washington Sundar guaranteed, Dravid and Rohit Sharma have to take a call on the other slots. But who will go out? Follow IND vs BAN LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Surprisingly, India have preferred all-rounders over specialist spinners. Shahbaz Ahmed, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are all all-rounders. Rajat Patidar is also a batting all-rounder. The rest are either batters or specialist pacers. In fact, India have 5 specialist pacers in a country where spinners rule the roost.
But despite the shortcomings in the squad, Dravid has to do with what he has. The former India captain has a fair idea about Shere Bangla Stadium.
IND BAN Pitch Report: Three pacers or additional spinner? Rahul Dravid spends time with Sher-E-Bangla Stadium curator, call on combination Saturday, Check Details
India Bowling Combination: Three spinners or three pacers?
- With India’s Top 6 contributing nadir with the ball, Rahul Dravid has a dilemma.
- Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant are all one-dimensional players.
- To bridge that, selectors have emphasised on all-rounders.
- Rajat Patidar, Washington Sundar, and Shabaz Ahmed are all good in both departments.
- Although Mirpur hasn’t hosted any ODI matches over the last 12 months, India have a pretty good idea about the pitch.
- Left-arm spinners have been successful at the venue and have been Bangladesh’s Achilles heels.
- With two left-arm spinners and an off-spinner in the squad, Dravid will be pretty confident.
- The last time Shere Bangla hosted an ODI, it was a good batting pitch.
- Sri Lanka posted 286 batting first while Bangladesh struggled in chasing.
- But it was pacers who ruled. Spinners could only manage 4 wickets out of possible 16.
- However, the last match at the venue was a Test. And it was a mixed bag.
- With plenty of grass on offer, SriLankan pacers dominated.
- But as the pitch wore off, spinners got some purchase.
- By the looks of the pitch on Friday, it had some dry grass and was pretty dry otherwise.
- Hence, India may end up with 3 pacers and two spinners to have a balance.
IND BAN Pitch Report:
With no matches in nearly 7 months, the Shere Bangla Stadium will offer a new surface. Hence, it will be difficult to judge how it will react. But as per history, spinners may get some help as the ball will get older. Early on, the red soil construction is likely to assist pacers. Considering that, Dravid may opt for Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammad Shami instead of Deepak Chahar. The average first-innings total at the venue is 241.
Snapshots from #TeamIndia‘s first training session in Bangladesh ahead of the three-match ODI series.#BANvIND
📸 – BCB pic.twitter.com/AXncaYWeup
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 2, 2022
India Probable Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Bangladesh Probable Playing XI: Litton Das (C), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud
India’s squad for Bangladesh ODIs: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Sen
Team Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Yasir Ali, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Ebadot Hossain, Anamul Haque, Litton Das (C, WK), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Nurul Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam.
IND BAN Pitch Report: Three pacers or additional spinner? Rahul Dravid spends time with Sher-E-Bangla Stadium curator, call on combination Saturday, Check Details
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