Indian Cricket Team playing 11 for first test against Bangladesh, 2024 - Predicted

The Indian cricket team will kick off their home season with a two-match test series against Bangladesh.

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team will take on Bangladesh from September 19 in a two-match test series at home to mark the beginning of a long season that includes 10 test matches, five at home and five away in Australia.

On Sunday, the BCCI announced a 16-man squad for the first test which will be played in Chennai. The key absentee from the squad was Mohammed Shami, who is still recovering from his ankle surgery.

The major talking point is the return of Rishabh Pant to the test setup for the first time since his car accident in December 2022. Left-arm pacer Yash Dayal has received his maiden test call-up.

In this article, we will predict India’s playing XI for the first test against Bangladesh in Chennai.

Indian Cricket Team playing 11 for the first test against Bangladesh – Predicted

Rohit Sharma (C)

Rohit Sharma is the Indian cricket team’s captain and the first name on the team sheet. Rohit had a bumper test series against England earlier this year, when he scored 400 runs with two centuries and a fifty.

Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal had a record-breaking test series against England earlier this year and will be expected to repeat the same as well in this series when he pairs up with captain Rohit Sharma at the top. The young left-hander amassed 712 runs at an average of 89 in five tests, slamming two double centuries and three fifties.

Shubman Gill

During the England tests, Gill, who was given the responsibility of the number three position in the Indian cricket team, managed to save himself from being dropped. After three low scores, he racked up a century before cracking two fifties and another century to end the series with 452 runs.

Jaiswal and Gill are expected to form the backbone of India’s batting across formats for the next decade.

Virat Kohli

All eyes will be on Virat Kohli against Bangladesh as he will make his return to the test side after missing the entire series against England due to the birth of his son. Kohli has fallen behind the other three members of the ‘Fab Four’ in test cricket, and he would be eyeing the upcoming 10 tests to bounce back to the top. Kohli has hit only two test centuries since 2021.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul’s position in the Indian test XI would be a debated one as Sarfaraz Khan had a terrific debut series against England, in which he cracked three fifties in five innings. But Rahul is the incumbent: he played in the first test against England, and scored over 100 runs in the match, before missing the rest four tests due to injury. In his third-last test, Rahul raised a memorable century in Centurion.

He played a couple of gritty knocks in the Duleep Trophy 2024.

Rishabh Pant (wk)

Dhruv Jurel is another youngster who impressed in his debut series against England, but is likely to be dropped from the XI because Rishabh Pant is all but certain to make his return to the test XI. Pant made his red-ball return since his car accident in December 2022 in the Duleep Trophy 2024. In the second innings, he whacked 61 runs off 47 balls, with nine fours and two sixes, and also displayed good work behind the stumps.

With the Australia tour in mind, India are expected to play Pant against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Ravindra Jadeja

Against England earlier this year, Ravindra Jadeja took 19 wickets at an average of 24 and scored 232 runs at an average of 38 – numbers befitting of his all-round skillset. He is a first-choice member of the test side, both at home and away.

Ravi Ashwin

While Ravi Ashwin’s place in the side in SENA tests is uncertain, he remains a first-choice player in Asian conditions. He averages 21 with the ball in Asia. Against England earlier, he took 26 wickets at 22.

Kuldeep Yadav

India will have to make a choice between Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, unless they go with four spinners. It feels that the new head coach Gautam Gambhir might tilt towards Kuldeep, considering the Australia tour later in the year.

Further, the bowling form of these two spinners is contrasting. While Kuldeep took 19 wickets in four tests against England, Axar has managed only eight wickets in his last six tests. Axar’s batting gives India depth, but that might not be enough to tip the scales in his favour when competing for a spot with Kuldeep in the test side.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah, the best fast bowler in the world, was expected to be rested for the Bangladesh series as well looking at India’s next test series against New Zealand at home and five-match test series in Australia. But, with him getting included in the squad, indicates that he will be straightaway drafted in the playing 11. Bumrah took 19 wickets in four tests against England earlier this year.

Mohammed Siraj

With Shami injured, Siraj is likely to be the second pacer in the side, ahead of Akash Deep and Yash Dayal. The fast bowler didn’t have a great time against England and managed only six wickets in four tests at 57. The conditions, though, didn’t offer him any swing. He would be itching to pick up some new ball wickets against Bangladesh.

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