Bangladesh will attempt to make cricket history when they play India in Chennai starting on Thursday. Bangladesh recently defeated Pakistan in a Test series for the first time ever.
Celebrations at home followed Pakistan’s 2-0 victory, which came one month after political unrest and violent protests in Bangladesh forced the country’s despotic former premier from office.
However, a two-series test Bangladesh has lost 11 of its 13 previous matches and drawn two, making their prospects in India much more grim.
Both draws occurred at home, at Fatullah in 2015 and Chittagong in 2007.
Before the first Test, visiting captain Najmul Hossain Shanto stated, “This will be a challenging series for us.”
“But after having a good series against Pakistan, there is an extra confidence in our team, as well as among all the people of the country.”
Although India is expected to win the series handily, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Shakib Al Hasan are all in excellent form going into Chennai.
In the Pakistan series, off-spinner Mehidy was the top bowler with 10 wickets in the two matches, while Mushfiqur amassed 216.
The matches in Chennai and Kanpur are clouded by political unrest.
The 37-year-old star player Shakib was a member of the former prime leader Sheikh Hasina’s ruling party.
After 15 years of iron-fisted reign, she fled a student-led revolt and made her way to India by helicopter as demonstrators marched on her castle.
Shakib is charged with murder after it is alleged that he killed demonstrators with the help of the police.
The middle-order batsman and spin bowler, who was instrumental in Bangladesh’s victory in Pakistan, returned to England to play county cricket for Surrey.
His countrymen have come together in support of him.
“As for Shakib, I am hopeful that he will do well,” added Najmul.
“He has been in good form with the ball.”
Nahid Rana, a right-arm bowler from Bangladesh, made headlines in Pakistan after hitting speeds of over 146 kph (90 mph).
Jaker Ali, an uncapped wicketkeeper, replaces Shoriful Islam, a fast bowler, who had to withdraw due to a groin ailment.
Return of Kohli
Bangladesh’s batting will be tested by Rohit Sharma’s team against the skilled slow bowling combination of Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin on surfaces predicted to favour the spinners.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will spearhead the speed attack while Mohammed Shami recovers from ankle surgery.
Rishabh Pant, the wicketkeeper, is welcomed back to the Indian Test team for the first time since he almost died in a vehicle accident in December 2022.
Pant, a left-handed batter who attacks, is anticipated to take Dhruv Jurel’s place behind the stumps.
Virat Kohli, who missed India’s 4-1 home series victory over England due to the birth of his second child, is also returning for his first Test since playing South Africa in Cape Town in January.
India is led by new head coach Gautam Gambhir in a Test match for the first time.
Following Chennai, the second Test, which is a part of the World Test Championship, gets underway in Kanpur on September 27. Australia is currently trailing India in the standings.
A three-match Twenty20 series will take place after the Tests, beginning on October 6 in Gwalior, proceeding to New Delhi three days later, and concluding on October 12 in Hyderabad.
