India vs Bangladesh: 3 Indian Players who could be rested for the 2nd Test

India is already leading the 2-match Test series, having won the opening game by a huge margin of 280 runs in Chennai. With this win, Rohit and company have demonstrated why they are considered one of the best teams in the world. India was playing red-ball cricket after a long hiatus, with their last appearance being a 5-match Test series against England in February-March, which they won 4-1. Notably, India’s key players Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were unavailable for that series.

Despite this, the Indian team performed like champions in the first match of the series against Bangladesh, who entered the series after beating India’s arch-rival Pakistan 2-0 on their home turf. However, it’s never easy to face Rohit and his men, especially on home soil, where India boasts an excellent record. This was evident in the opening game, where India dominated Bangladesh through a combined team effort in every department.

After winning the first game of the series, the Indian team will undoubtedly aim to seal the series in Kanpur. However, with a packed Test schedule ahead, including matches against New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Gautam Gambhir and the team management might consider making a few changes for the second match to manage the workload of key players.

Here are three players who might be rested for the final Test of the series starting on September 27th in Kanpur:

1. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has been in sensational form for India since the 2023 ICC World Cup through to the T20 World Cup 2024, where he was among the leading wicket-takers in both major tournaments. After the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against South Africa, Bumrah was rested and did not participate in the tours of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. However, he was recalled to the Indian squad for the home Test series against Bangladesh. With India already leading the series, the BCCI and team management may choose to rest him for the final match, given the eight additional Tests India will play against New Zealand and Australia.

2. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is a big name in Test cricket. His match-winning contributions with both bat and ball have been a crucial factor in India’s success in the longest format. He showcased his all-round abilities once again in the first Test against Bangladesh, scoring 86 runs and taking five wickets. However, with Jadeja in the later stages of his career, India needs to carefully manage his workload, especially with important matches coming up. With Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav as quality alternatives, it would make sense to rest Jadeja for the second Test in Kanpur.

3. Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant made an incredible return to Test cricket by smashing a century in the second innings when the Indian team was in a difficult situation, having lost 3 wickets for just 67 runs. He formed a crucial partnership of 167 runs for the 4th wicket with Shubman Gill, giving India a strong lead. During this knock, Pant showcased his prowess, reaching his 6th Test hundred and equaling the record of former Indian captain MS Dhoni for the most centuries by an Indian wicket-keeper batter in red-ball cricket.

With India set to play eight more Tests after the Bangladesh series, and considering that Rishabh Pant only returned to cricket in March this year and has been playing continuously since, it may be wise for the BCCI to give him a break before the upcoming New Zealand Tests and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where his role will be even more impor