India vs Bangladesh: File photo of Kuldeep Yadav© AFP
The second India vs Bangladesh Test presents a great chance for the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team to take a step closer to the World Test Championship finals. The all-round show of Ravichandran Ashwin, Shubman Gill's sublime hundred, Ravindra Jadeja's quality batting and Rishabh Pant's roaring comeback allowed India to script a comfortable victory in Chennai despite being put under pressure by the Bangladesh pacers in the first Test.
The way India bounced back in the game reaffirmed their supremacy in Test cricket, especially at home where they are on course for a record extending 18th consecutive series win. Having made a successful return in white-ball cricket, it was time for Pant to show that it is the Test arena where he can make the maximum impact.
However, both Rohit and Virat's bats remained silent in the series-opener as Bangladesh pacers -- Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed -- bowled probing lines on a supportive track and were rewarded.
With a long Test season ahead of them, the two premier batters must be itching to get back among the runs. Playing his first Test at home since March 2023, Kohli did not look at his sharpest and one can trust him to not go for expansive cover drives at the start of his innings.
The Green Park wicket has traditionally been a low and slow track that assists spinners. While it is expected to offer some assistance to the fast bowlers initially, the basic nature of the pitch, prepared with black soil brought from Unnao, is not expected to change much.
The wicket will become slower as the game progresses. It means, India can field three spinners instead of three pacers. If that is indeed the case, Akash Deep could make way for Kuldeep Yadav.
If India think they need more cushion with the bat, then Axar Patel might just pip home hero Kuldeep, who has performed exceptionally over the last 18 months.
In the last Test played at Green Park in 2021, India had fielded three spinners -- Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar -- in a game that ended in a thrilling draw with New Zealand.
Interestingly, the 2021 contest and the one before that in 2016 (also against New Zealand) lasted five days.
India's Likely XI vs Bangladesh In 2nd Test: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
With PTI inputs