Chennai Test: Eyeing strong start to Gambhir era, India face upbeat Bangladesh

India return to Test cricket after nearly six months, beginning their sprint towards another World Test Championship final as they face Bangladesh in Chennai on Thursday, September 19.

Rohit Sharma’s men are set to play 10 Tests over the next four months, starting with this two-Test series against a confident touring side, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto.

Anticipation is high as India head into a pivotal transition phase in Test cricket under new coach Gautam Gambhir. The World Cup-winning former opener has had a shaky start to his coaching career, with India losing to Sri Lanka in an ODI series. The upcoming Test season will be a major test for Gambhir, who thrives on tough challenges.

If the early signs are any indication, Gambhir seems to have both his head and heart in the right place. From emphasising the importance of flexibility (with a subtle dig at ‘Bazball’) to praising the impact of senior players, Gambhir’s press conference on Tuesday, ahead of his first Test assignment, showed his clarity of thought.

“Look, I think the most important thing is clear communication. The clear communication is that we don’t drop anyone; we select the best playing XI based on who we believe will perform in that particular Test match. People often talk about players being dropped, but I’ve never believed in that. We only focus on selecting the best XI,” Gambhir stressed, emphasising the need for flexibility in team selection over the coming months.

FULL-STRENGTH INDIA HEAVY FAVOURITES

India has sent a strong message by assembling a full-strength squad for the series opener. Rohit Sharma made it clear during his media address on Monday that the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh will not be a “dress rehearsal” for the tougher challenges later this season. India faces New Zealand in a three-Test series at home after Bangladesh, followed by a five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. While India are sitting pretty at the top of the World Test Championship points table, the team has made it clear there will be no room for complacency during the home season.

Virat Kohli is back after missing the England series earlier in the year. Jasprit Bumrah, described as “more than just a luxury,” will feature in the series opener, even though he was widely expected to rest during the Bangladesh series. Rishabh Pant, the X-factor in whites, returns to the Test fold after 632 days. Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan, who impressed against England earlier this year, have been retained, while KL Rahul’s return bolsters the middle order. Pant’s flexibility and fearlessness are expected to restore solidity in the middle order, and India will be hoping he quickly regains his expressive best.

India has no shortage of options in the spin department. Local hero R Ashwin, chasing milestones, will lead an attack that includes Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. Yash Dayal and Akash Deep are back-up pace options, adding depth for a long season that includes the five-match series Down Under.

India enter the series as overwhelming favorites, having not lost a home Test series since December 2012. Since then, India have lost only four home Tests, including one against England earlier this year. India has been one of the toughest touring destinations over the past two decades, and Rohit Sharma’s team will look to maintain that proud record over the next two months.

However, despite the odds favoring India, Bangladesh arrive with confidence after their stunning 2-0 victory over Pakistan in September. That series win showcased Bangladesh’s ability to fight and compete against top teams, a landmark result that brought joy to a nation in political turmoil. The victory should give a boost to a Bangladesh side that is also going through a period of transition.

In Pakistan, Bangladesh demonstrated they are no longer overly reliant on spinners for success. Yes, the trio of Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taijul Islam will be keen to make their mark in India, but Bangladesh’s pacers will also look to continue their good work. A quartet of fast bowlers — Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam — took 21 wickets at an average of 30.05 in Pakistan, outperforming both their own spinners and Pakistan’s seamers. In the second Test, Bangladesh’s fast bowlers claimed all 10 wickets in Pakistan’s second innings, a first in the country’s Test history.

Bangladesh will also take confidence from the way they managed to give India a massive scare in Mirpur in December 2022, albeit on a rank turner.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sounded thoughtful ahead of the Test, emphasising that the team would focus on their process rather than the result, recognising the challenge of facing India in India.

“I think we played very good cricket against Pakistan, which gives us a lot of confidence. But that is in the past,” Shanto said. “We are here to play a new series, and the dressing room believes we can play very good cricket. We are not thinking about the outcome, but just trying to follow our processes,” he added.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS: CHENNAI TEST

Reports suggest a black soil pitch will be used in Chennai, providing enough pace and carry for the fast bowlers during the first two days. The hot and humid conditions in Chennai will likely cause the pitch to dry quickly, bringing spinners into play as the match progresses.

Both teams might consider playing an extra seamer in place of a third spinner. India opted for three seamers and two spinners in their last home series against Bangladesh in 2019. So much will depend on how the pitch looks on Thursday morning. For India, the choice may come down to Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel for the third spinner’s spot if they stick with their spin-bowling strengths.

While India has maintained that they will take one Test at a time, the hosts may be tempted to experiment with a combination or two, keeping the Australia series in mind. Kuldeep Yadav over Axar Patel or an extra pacer could be fresh options for Rohit Sharma and his team.

For Bangladesh, Taijul Islam, who sat out the Pakistan series, could return to complement Shakib and Mehidy.

Bangladesh has never beaten India in a Test match, and India are expected to maintain their perfect record. However, Najmul and his men will aim to challenge India on their home turf — and that itself could be considered a victory for the visitors.