Explained: Why are India playing three fast bowlers in the 1st IND vs BAN test?

India omitted both Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel from the 1st IND vs BAN test.

In a rare move, the Indian cricket team went with three pacers in a home test when they omitted both Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel for the 1st IND vs BAN test.

India’s home season got underway on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai with the IND vs BAN test series. Captain Rohit Sharma confirmed at the toss that India’s bowling attack comprised Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj.

The debate among the fans and experts leading up to the test match was about who would play between Kuldeep and Axar. But the hosts gave a surprise by excluding both the spinners, despite their terrific numbers in home test matches, and instead going with seamer Akash Deep, who made his debut earlier this year against England in Ranchi and picked up three wickets.

This is the first time since the 2019 test series against Bangladesh that India are playing three genuine seamers in a home test match.

Explained: Why are India playing three fast bowlers in the 1st IND vs BAN test?

It is because of the nature of the red soil pitch at Chepauk that both India and Bangladesh have picked three seamers in their XI. The Chennai pitch for the 1st IND vs BAN test is made of red soil, which has pace, carry, and bounce. It is expected to remain good for batting for the first three days, while also aiding the pacers considerably, and then crumble apart to help the spinners on the last two days of the test.

Also, there is moisture on the surface and it looks hard, as Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said at the toss, which he won and elected to bowl first, a bold move to make in a test match in Asia.

Further, for the uninitiated, the red-soil pitches at Chepauk are brought from Mumbai, and these surfaces are known for their true bounce for both fast bowlers and spinners.

If you only look at the first over of the match bowled by speedster Taskin Ahmed, in which there was extra bounce and the ball carried nicely up to the keeper’s chest, India’s decision to pick three seamers seems justified.

Teams:

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.