Deadline: November 14, 2019 at 9:30 AM IST
Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
Pitch Report
Crowd came in huge numbers the last time a Test was played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore – a sight rarely seen in the longest format especially. And it was all worth the time and money spent. Virat Kohli hit a magnificent 211, while Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara second-fiddled their captain with hundreds. Complimenting the batsmen’s efforts was Ravichandran Ashwin who ended with match figures of 13 for 140. You get the gist of the pitch.
Teams
Probable XI for India: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohmmad Shami, Umesh Yadav
Probable XI for Bangladesh: Shadnam Islam, Liton Das, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan/Al-Amin Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
Preview
Bangladesh flagged off their journey in Test cricket, against India, in 2000. The start was promising. Riding on Aminul Islam’s resolute 145, Bangladesh posted 400, grinding out in the hot and humid conditions of Dhaka. What followed has been the story of Bangladesh cricket in the longest format. India took a 29-run lead and Bangladesh then collapsed for 91 runs, throwing away their hard work in the first innings. Ever since they lost 85 more times in 114 Tests.
Bangladesh have never beaten India at home or away. They have beaten Australia, England, and West Indies but not India. They have a formidable side but the one without Shakib Al Hasan, the No. 3 all-rounder in ICC Test Rankings and perhaps the greatest Bangladeshi cricketer ever. Worse still, they will be against the No. 1 team in the world – the team whose fast bowlers are as effective as spinners on turning tracks, the team whose four players appear in the top 10 of ICC Test Rankings for batsmen. Bangladesh will have to do something special, even if they are to dominate India, let alone emerging victorious.
Players To Watch Out For
Rohit Sharma likes playing against Bangladesh. He has three ODI hundreds and a highest score of 89 in T20Is against them. Given his recent form across formats, you never know what’s coming your way.
The onus of spearheading the bowling will fall on Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He has taken 89 wickets in 20 matches.
Virat Kohli has a double-hundred both at the venue and against Bangladesh. Need we say anymore?
Mushfiqur Rahim has been Bangladesh’s best batsman in the past 2 years. He added a whopping 359 runs with Shakib Al Hasan in New Zealand, and then a year later, scored 219* against West Indies. He was instrumental in Bangladesh’s first ever T20I win last week, and will be expected to create an encore in Tests.
India’s pacers were exceptional against South Africa last month. The duo of Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav sniped up 24 wickets, which are only 4 fewer than the spin pair of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja picked up.
Match Prediction
All odds are against Bangladesh. In the Test Championship thus far, India have not tasted any defeat. They are ahead in the head-to-head contests, winning 7 of 9 matches.
Squads
India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma
Bangladesh: Shadnam Islam, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Saif Hassan, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Liton Das (wk), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain, Ebadat Hossain