India seek old dominance against upbeat Bangladesh
Rishabh Pant set to return as visitors look to maintain the momentum after beating Pakistan 2-0
CHENNAI: Twenty-four years on, and it’s still not a surprise to see India-Bangladesh Test rivalry remain so remarkably unremarkable. So sparse have been the tours that the prevailing thought is that this competition was never meant to grow, at least in the longest format. More damning have been the results—two draws at Chattogram and Fatullah alongside 11 defeats, five of them by more than innings—that simply don’t justify more than bare minimum engagement with Bangladesh at this level.
Sentiments that Virender Sehwag had notoriously voiced in 2010, calling Bangladesh ‘ordinary’ because they don’t have the bowlers to take 20 wickets. Now is probably as good a time as any to set that record straight as weeks after a historic series sweep in Pakistan, Bangladesh have arrived in India with possibly their best ever bowling attack. And that they mean business is evident in the urgency with which a visa was arranged for Shakib Al Hasan to be flown in from England’s County circuit and join the team here on Tuesday night.
But that is the first of many steps Bangladesh must get right to beat India twice in a row at their home, something no side has achieved apart from England since 2012. And while much of the personnel on and off the field has changed in the last 12 years, the belief hasn’t.
“I have been a big believer that we don’t fear anyone but we respect everyone,” said Gautam Gambhir, for whom this will be his first Test assignment since taking over as India’s head coach in July. “I congratulate them for what they did in Pakistan but this is a new series and they are a quality side and we want to play good cricket.”
Hoping to make the World Test Championship final thrice in a row, India know a series sweep will help them consolidate their pole position in the standings.
Coming off a long break though, there is a reason to be slightly guarded against rustiness, or perhaps that hint of complacency that may creep in in the wake of the T20 World Cup win. Sri Lanka had pulled a fast one in the one-dayers. But India can’t afford a slip-up in Tests where every point will matter.
Talent is one thing, Bangladesh will have to play out of their skin to even come close to pulling off that scenario. That too with the all-important rider of being emotionally divested from the highs and lows of the game. Fortunately for Bangladesh, the Pakistan series has underlined their composure in salvaging games from dire situations.
“I think in the last 10-15 years, most of the players have (gained) experience. Of late players aren’t getting too emotional. In the last couple of years, I felt we have been better in controlling our emotions,” said Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.”
Ashwin factor
That said, it’s probably Bangladesh’s toughest assignment till date. A 100 Tests old, local boy Ravichandran Ashwin knows how the Chepauk surface will change and has probably mindmapped at least a dozen different bowling angles, speeds, heights of release and seam positions by now.
And considering the top four Bangladesh batters are all lefthanded, Ashwin could make an early entry.
Expected to relentlessly wheel away in tandem is Ravindra Jadeja who has a special liking for red-soil pitches. How the pitch reveals itself will be a factor but there is a good chance India might go with Kuldeep Yadav too with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj sharing the new ball.
Making a long-awaited comeback is Virat Kohli who will be looking to more than make up for his absence from the England tour earlier this year. Also welcome back Rishabh Pant who returns for his first Test since a car accident in December 2022 that almost ended his career. This means Dhruv Jurel, who impressed against England, falls back in the waiting line.
Sarfaraz Khan should have made the cut based on his returns against England but Rohit Sharma has indicated that India might pick KL Rahul.