India has officially announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming first Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place later this month in Chennai.
This match marks a significant return for wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who has not played in a Test since December 2022 due to a serious injury sustained in a car accident.
Rohit Sharma will lead the team, bringing his experience to the forefront as India aims to secure a strong start in the series.
Alongside Pant, who is making his comeback, Dhruv Jurel retains his place in the squad, providing depth behind the stumps. Additionally, KL Rahul, who has also kept wickets in the past, adds versatility to the lineup.
The squad sees the inclusion of uncapped left-arm pacer Yash Dayal, who has been impressive in domestic cricket and adds a fresh option to the pace attack.
In the batting lineup, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, and Shubman Gill will form the middle order. Shubman Gill is expected to continue at No. 3, showcasing his growing prowess in the longer format.
The spin department will feature stalwarts Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel, providing a robust spin attack that can exploit home conditions.
Leading the pace attack will be Jasprit Bumrah, supported by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who made a mark during the recent home series against England. The addition of Yash Dayal introduces a left-arm option, enhancing the team’s bowling variety.
The first Test of the series is set to commence on September 19 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, followed by the second Test in Kanpur starting on September 27.
This series is crucial for India as they look to gain valuable points in the ICC World Test Championship. After a disappointing ODI series against Sri Lanka, the team will be eager to bounce back and assert their dominance against a Bangladesh side that recently achieved a historic Test series win over Pakistan.
India’s squad for the 1st Test of the Bangladesh Test series
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.
