India vs Bangladesh: Hosts likely to field 3 spinners
The Indian cricket team is set to face Bangladesh in the first Test match at the M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday. This will be India's first Test match after a month-long hiatus, with Rohit Sharma leading the squad. According to a report by PTI, head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit are expected to include three spinners - Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja - in their lineup for this game.
Patel to miss out, Pant set for return
The inclusion of three spinners in the Indian team implies that Axar Patel will not be selected for this match. The pace attack is likely to be led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. On the batting front, Rishabh Pant is tipped to make his Test comeback after nearly two years. This means Dhruv Jurel, who had an impressive debut series against England, will likely be benched.
Indian team intensifies training ahead of 1st Test
The Indian team had an intensive training session on Monday, with all 16 squad members participating at the Chepauk. This was their third practice session since arriving in Chennai last week. The batters, including Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal, faced Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin in the nets. Skipper Rohit Sharma also practiced against spinners to prepare for Bangladesh's slow bowling attack.
Pitch conditions and Bangladesh's recent performance
The pitch at Chepauk is expected to be a red-soil one, offering quality bounce and carry. The hot temperatures in Chennai are likely to ensure spin will play a dominant role as the Test progresses. However, the fast bowlers are also expected to pose a threat throughout the game due to the conditions facilitating reverse swing. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is coming into this series with confidence after their series sweep in Pakistan.
