Virat Kohli’s Clash with Spinners, Rohit Sharma’s Duel: Crucial Battles to Watch in the India vs Bangladesh Test Series

India vs Bangladesh the test match series is going to start from 19-23 Sep 2024.

India is gearing up to face a Bangladesh team that is perhaps more confident in Test cricket than ever before.

Battle between India vs Bangladesh

India are the clear favourites for their upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh, as is typically the case in any red-ball series in the country, regardless of the opposition. However, it’s worth noting that this Bangladesh team appears to be one of the most balanced sides they’ve ever fielded for a Test series, buoyed by their recent shock victory over Pakistan on the latter’s home turf.

What sets Bangladesh apart, and makes them stand out from most top teams that tour India for Test matches, is the depth of their experienced spin bowling lineup. Not only do they have multiple seasoned spinners, but their top two—Shakib Al Hasan and Mehedi Hasan Miraz—are also established all-rounders, much like India’s own spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

 In addition, Bangladesh’s batting lineup features players who are considerably more skilled at handling spin compared to batters from nations like England or Australia.

This combination of factors makes the upcoming two-match Test series a compelling contest to anticipate, with matches set to be played in Chennai and Kanpur.
One key player to watch is Mushfiqur Rahim, one of the few touring batters with an impressive record on Indian soil. Despite having played just three Tests in India, the Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 331 runs at an average of 55.16, including a century and two half-centuries. Bangladesh’s success in this series will heavily depend on how well they can withstand the pressure from Ashwin and Jadeja, and Mushfiqur will be a critical figure in that battle. In preparation for the first Test, he was seen practicing a variety of sweeps in the Chennai nets to counter the threat posed by off-spin and left-arm spin.

Head to Head India vs Bangladesh In Test Matches

India vs Bangladesh have clashed 13 times in Test cricket, with India dominating the encounters by winning 11 matches. Bangladesh, however, have yet to register a victory, while 2 of the games ended in a draw.

Head to Head India vs Bangladesh In ODI Matches

India vs Bangladesh have squared off in 41 ODI matches, with India winning 32 of them. Bangladesh has managed to secure victory 8 times, while 1 match ended with no result.

Virat Kohli vs Bangladesh spinners

Battle between Virat Kolhi and Mehedi Hasan
Kohli has successfully reclaimed his position as the most consistent batter in ODIs and T20Is following a remarkable three-year slump in form from 2019 to 2021. Although he has notched a few Test centuries in recent years, there has been considerable discussion about him lagging behind Joe Root in the rankings of the best modern Test batters. With India scheduled to play 10 Test matches in the next six months, Kohli has a prime opportunity to rediscover his rhythm in the longest format. However, spin bowling has posed challenges for him, and the experienced pair of Shakib and Mehedi Hasan Miraz will likely target him. Kohli’s ability to handle their spin could be pivotal to the success of his Test season.

Indian openers vs Nahid Rana

If India prepares pace-friendly pitches like they did during Bangladesh’s last visit, they will need to be cautious of the threat posed by Nahid Rana. Alongside Hasan Mahmud, Rana was central to Bangladesh’s remarkable comeback in their second Test against Pakistan. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are likely to open for India, and they’ll face a tough challenge, as Rana is known for consistently bowling at speeds between 145kph and 150kph.

Jasprit Bumrah vs Shadman Islam

Battle between Jasprit bumrah and Shadman Islam
Like Rohit and Jaiswal, Bangladesh’s openers have their own challenges to overcome, and arguably theirs is tougher due to the presence of Jasprit Bumrah. Shadman Islam has demonstrated the temperament required of a top-class Test opener, particularly in the series against Pakistan, where he anchored the innings with a composed 93 in the first Test in Rawalpindi. However, facing Bumrah could be the toughest task in cricket right now, no matter the conditions. After a lengthy break since the 2024 T20 World Cup, Bumrah returns fresh and ready, having proven earlier this year in a five-match series at home against England that he remains deadly, even in spin-friendly conditions.

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