Team India has started their practice session ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh, set to begin on September 19. The two-match series will kick off at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with the second Test scheduled for September 27 in Kanpur. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, in his first Test assignment, is determined to secure a series win. The team has been preparing diligently, with players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and star batters including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant attending the practice session.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared footage from the practice session on their official social media accounts, updating fans on the team’s progress. Captain Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the Test side, with newcomers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal receiving their maiden call-ups. Notably, Rishabh Pant will make his return to Test cricket following a life-threatening accident in December 2022. Virat Kohli will also return to the Test format after missing the England series due to the birth of his son, Akaay. Kohli will be keen to regain his form after facing challenges in recent tournaments.
During the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli struggled with form, accumulating 151 runs in eight matches. The ODI series against Sri Lanka also saw Kohli and the rest of the batting line-up struggle against spin, showcasing an average of 19.33 in three matches. KL Rahul, who missed most of the England series due to injury, is back in the Test squad. Jasprit Bumrah, described as a “national treasure,” is also set to return to the team after his match-winning performance in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.
The spin quartet of Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep will play crucial roles with both bat and ball, while Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal form India’s pace attack. After the series against Bangladesh, India will face New Zealand in three Tests starting from October 16, followed by the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia from November 22. The squad for the 1st Test against Bangladesh includes Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, and a host of other talented players ready to showcase their skills on the international stage.
