India vs Bangladesh live: Pant returns to Test cricket as IND in trouble

India's captain Rohit Sharma (left) walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal as Bangladesh's players celebrate during the first day of the first cricket test match between India and Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 19, 2024. (Photo by R.Satish BABU / AFP) / — IMAGE FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE —

India returns to competitive cricket after over a month, hosting Bangladesh for two Test matches and three T20Is. The Test series begins with a match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and marks the start of India's home run in terms of qualifying for the final of the World Test Championship. Over the next six months, India is scheduled to host New Zealand in a three-match series after the Bangladesh match, followed by an epic five-Test tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh would be buoyed by their recent historic 2-0 win over Pakistan, but India would be a different caliber in front of their home crowd. No other team has dominated at home like them. India has won 17 consecutive Test series at home since 2013 and lost only four Tests it has played during that period. Moreover, Bangladesh has never won a Test match against India. Out of 13 Tests between the two neighbors, India have won 11 and two matches have ended in draws.

The Indian cricket team had arrived in Chennai a week earlier to get used to the conditions and on Monday, all 16 players of the team took part in the training session. Players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan – who joined the team late after playing the second round of the Duleep Trophy – had a hit in the nets as the Indian team captain put more emphasis on letting the spinners play, knowing that the Bangladeshis have too many options in spin bowling.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, who landed in Chennai on Sunday, had their intensive training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. Litton Das, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam and Mushfiqur Rahim struck the ball very well in the nets. Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan, the spinners who would play a key role in the two-match Test series, were also seen in action. Shakib Al Hasan was scheduled to join the team on Tuesday after his county stint in Surrey. The main attraction of Bangladesh's training session was young pacer Nahid Rana, who took six wickets in two Tests against Pakistan.

Red soil pitch and selection

The Chepauk track has been laid with the red earth that is usually used to prepare the Wankhede pitch. Traditionally, the red earth pitch has bounce and carry, keeping the seamers in the picture. However, the hot and humid conditions in Chennai could potentially provide support to the spinners as the Test progresses. However, due to the nature of the track and the conditions, the quicks are expected to play a role in the game. There will also be a few sessions in the Test that are dominated by reverse swing.

The last time India fielded three seamers in a home Test was against Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2019. There is a possibility that India could use the ensuing Bangladesh-New Zealand series as a preparation ground for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November-January. But they will not risk building seamer-friendly tracks in preparation for Australia while losing crucial WTC points by losing Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Mohammed Shami is expected to be fit for the Australia tour, but India would have these two Test series to find other seamers in addition to the regular quicks.

However, the Indian national team captain is not too worried and said that India has a wide range of bowlers to choose from. Apart from the seniors, some talents also made waves in the recently concluded two rounds of the Duleep Trophy. Another selection dilemma would be between Sarfaraz and KL Rahul, who is returning to Test cricket after a while. Dhruv Jurel, who impressed in his debut series against England, has to make way for Rishabh Pant, who is returning to Test cricket after a gap of two years.

When Rohit was asked at the press conference about the workload of the bowlers ahead of the Australia tour, he made it clear that he and the team management have plans to rotate the bowlers depending on their workload. For the England Tests, both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were rested, paving the way for Akash Deep's Test debut. However, since it is a two-Test series, there is not much scope for experimentation, so if players are rested, it will be in the next five Tests – two against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand.

Some highlights from the first test day India vs Bangladesh:

– Bangladesh won the coin toss and chose to bowl against India.

– ⁠India took the lead with 3 pacers and 2 spinners

– ⁠Rohit Sharma was the first wicket to fall for India, being dismissed for 6

– ⁠Shubman Gill for an 8-ball duck

– ⁠Virat Kohli suffered a failure on his return to Test cricket, retiring with a run-a-ball of 6.

– Hasan Mahmud took all three Indian wickets, with the Bangladeshi pacers making the most of the conditions