After a lengthy gap of 45 days, the Indian cricket team is poised to return to action next week as they take on Bangladesh in the first Test of a two-match series in Chennai. Ahead of the series opener, the Rohit Sharma-led side gathered in Chennai on Friday, with head coach Gautam Gambhir conducting a training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
This series will mark Gambhir’s first Test assignment since succeeding Rahul Dravid as head coach in July. Since their Test debut in 1932, India has competed in 579 matches. They have won and lost 178 games each, while 222 matches have ended in a stalemate.
If India defeats Bangladesh in Chennai the Rohit Sharma-led side will accomplish a significant milestone. Securing a victory would bring India’s total wins to 179, meaning Rohit and his team would surpass the number of losses in India’s Test cricket history for the first time since 1932.
Dravid’s final series as head coach saw India dominate England 4-1 earlier this year. Star batter Virat Kohli missed that series due to the birth of his son, Akaay.
Crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points are on the line in this two-match series as India prepares for a demanding 10-match Test season, which will also include a three-Test series at home against New Zealand and the five-match Border-Gavaskar series in Australia later this year.
Bangladesh has risen to fourth place boasting 45.83 percentage points following their remarkable 10-wicket win over Pakistan in the opening Test and a commendable fightback in the second Test, where wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das scored a century, leading the team to a series sweep. The second Test of the series is scheduled to take place at Green Park in Kanpur on September 27.
The Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh includes: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yash Dayal.
