Predicted India Playing XI for 1st Test: Kuldeep to pip Axar, no place for Sarfaraz vs Bangladesh

The India cricket team will begin their home leg of a long and challenging Test season on September 19. Taking on Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, a ground known to have traditionally spin-friendly conditions, could prove to be a challenge. However, the Indian management has decided to change their course. They’ve decided to play on a red-soil pitch, which offers good bounce and doesn’t break up early. This means that pacers could very well in the game, and instead of going with four spinners, as India did against England earlier in the year, they might go with three spinners. 

Top 4 set

If we are being honest, most of the team picks itself. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will return as openers. The Indian captain has been one of India’s best batters in Rishabh Pant’s absence, and age has not been a barrier for him. Jaiswal, meanwhile, has been emerging as one of the world’s best batters in the world.

Some may have questioned Shubman Gill’s playing at 3 before the year, but after his incredible run against England, he’s going to stay at the spot. Virat Kohli will be slotted at four. It’ll be fascinating to see how he performs, given he hasn’t played red-ball cricket since January 4 and wasn’t at his best in the nets.

KL & Pant ahead of Sarfaraz & Jurel

Sarfaraz Khan made his Test debut after KL Rahul was ruled out of the England series earlier in the year. The Mumbai batter performed well, but now that KL is fit, he won’t make the cut. The occasional wicketkeeper is one of India’s most trusted middle-order batters, and the Indian management will value his experience, especially considering they are going to Australia later in the year.

Similarly, Dhruv Jurel made his debut because Rishabh Pant wasn’t available due to his accident, Ishan Kishan wasn’t playing at that time, and KS Bharat’s performance wasn’t up to the mark. Similar to Sarfaraz, Jurel hasn’t done anything wrong, but it’s just that Pant, who’s arguably India’s greatest-ever wicketkeeper batter, is now ready to return.

There is no doubt that Axar Patel has come leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. His batting, especially, has improved quite a bit in all formats. However, the fact that Ravindra Jadeja does exactly what he does won’t help him. Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav offer different things with their off and wrist spin. Moreover, Kuldeep might have been dropped for Axar, but he was India’s best spinner in the last Test series they played.

Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly the world’s best all-format bowler, and he’ll be the first name on the sheet. Mohammed Siraj wasn’t fit a week before and didn’t play in the Duleep Trophy. If at his 100%, he’ll be Bumrah’s pace bowling partner despite him being slightly hit-and-miss in Test cricket.

Predicted India Playing XI for 1st Test vs Bangladesh

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.