India v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Indore: Preview, likely XIs, prediction

India v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Indore: Preview, likely XIs, prediction

Mayank Agarwal India

Bangladesh might have created a bit of history by winning their first ever T20I against India earlier on this tour, despite missing star players, but they will have to dig into every last reserve of strength they have in the Tests, starting in Indore on Thursday, November 14.

India away in Tests is now widely recognised as one of the toughest assignments in the sport. In 48 Tests played in India in the 2010s, India have lost four. Four. That’s a remarkable statistic, and points to just how formidable this side is on their own patch.

India are already well head on the ICC Test Championship table too, and Bangladesh will have their work cut out if they want to register points in this two-Test series.

On evidence of the treatment South Africa received when they visited last month, Bangladesh will face an uphill task against the Indian openers, despite the pairing being in its infancy. Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal were both electric against an established South Africa attack, and it’s fair to say they will be looking to bolster their credentials against a Bangladesh attack that will put onus on spin.

India will welcome back talismanic captain Virat Kohli, after he was rested for the T20Is, and that’s particularly jarring for Bangladesh given they will be missing their own star players in Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal to various reasons.

How can the neighbours cope? Every department, every player, will need to dig deep and grind it out, because India can make visitors suffer.

Head to head

India and Bangladesh have played nine Tests so far, going back to Bangladesh’s debut in the format in 2000. India have won seven of those matches, with Bangladesh battling to draws in the other two. It’s a heavily one-sided rivalry.

Key players

Mayank Agarwal (India): Agarwal is a relatively new to the format, having made his debut only last year, but already he seems like the settled, reliable opener India have been looking for since Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay faded. He scored big against South Africa, he knows Indian conditions well, and expect more big hits from him.

Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh): Bangladesh have clutch of senior players around whom the side is structured. Two of those big players are missing. The onus, therefore, is on Rahim to ensure there isn’t a leadership vacuum in certain areas, and the best way to do that will be to lead from the front. He scored a century in Hyderabad in Bangladesh’s last Test in India. Can he do it again?

Likely XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami

Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Saif Hassan, Mahmudullah, Liton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Ebadat Hosain

Prediction

India to win within four days.