India starts favourite
Nowhere-to-hide test for Bangladesh as hosts look to extend stellar home record
INDIAVS BANGLADESH FIRST TEST
Indore, India - Thirty-two Test matches, 26 wins, five draws, one defeat.
That's India's home record since the start of 2013. It has just dismantled South Africa in the most ruthless manner imaginable. It has won every Test so far in its 2019-21 World Test Championship cycle so far, and has 240 points from two series.
All those imposing facts stare Bangladesh in the eye as it begins a two-match series against the world's best Test team.
As if the odds for it weren't bad enough, Bangladesh is without two of its most talismanic cricketers, Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal.
No one is giving Bangladesh a chance to get anything out of this series, but tours like this one can help cricketers discover hidden depths within themselves.
They will need to be prepared for long and unforgiving days on the field, and nowhere-to-hide examinations of their batting techniques, but if they embrace the challenge, they will view it as a chance for a group of talented young players to make a name for themselves, and for a couple of older heads to burnish their reputations.
India skipper Virat Kohli refused to take the opponents lightly. He said, "They are used to playing in similar conditions so we definitely think that they will know their game plan and what they need to do. We'll have to play well to get a result, like we have in the past. When they play well they can be a very skillful team and they have the ability to play some really good cricket. We'll have respect for them but more than that we'll have belief in our own team."
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque said 'his team is not under any pressure.' "We all know there isn't much expectation from this series. We will try to play good cricket."
The buzz
India: Given the tinge of green on the pitch, Virat Kohli has said India is likely to play three fast bowlers. This means it will most likely retain the five-bowler combination it played in its last two Tests against South Africa.
Bangladesh: At the top of the order, it has a choice to make between the uncapped Saif Hassan and the experienced Imrul Kayes. Another decision involves the seam attack, and who partners the steady Abu Jayed - Mustafizur Rahman or Ebadot Hossain. Middle-order batsman Mosaddek Hossain is unavailable; he has left for Dhaka to attend to a family emergency.
In the spotlight
Cheteshwar Pujara: Since his allconquering 2018-19 tour of Australia, he has scored 205 runs in five Tests at an average of 25.62. His form shouldn't be a cause for undue worry, given that he scored two half-centuries in the recent series against South Africa, but Pujara won't be satisfied until he's back to scoring hundreds regularly. He broke a 14-innings century drought the last time he played in Indore.
Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam:
Both have thrived on turning tracks in Bangladesh, as their home averages of 21.44 and 27.04 suggest. The two spinners can expect a bit of help from Indian pitches, but not a whole lot, and will be up against a line-up that will take full toll of every little error. Mehidy and Taijul will need to be at their absolute best if Bangladesh is to have any hope of achieving a semblance of control over India.
Teams
India (likely): Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami. Bangladesh (likely): Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan/Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Ebadat Hossain/Mustafizur Rahman. Matchbegins at 8am, Oman time.