India vs Bangladesh: Strongest India Playing 11

The much-awaited Indian cricket team home season will begin with the India vs Bangladesh two-match Test series and the opening Test match is scheduled to be played from 19 September, 2024 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The second Test match between hosts India and Bangladesh will be starting from 27 September, 2024 at the Green Park in Kanpur. India will be playing home Test matches for the first time in this calendar year since the brilliant Test series victory against England earlier this year in February. This will also be the first-ever Test assignment for the Indian team with Gautam Gambhir as the head coach especially after that humiliating ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka. In this blog post, check out the strongest India playing 11 for the upcoming IND vs BAN 1st Test match. 

India vs Bangladesh: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant set to return in India Playing XI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced 16-member India Test squad for just the opening Test match against Bangladesh. Without much of doubt, the duo of skipper Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be the two Indian openers after their brilliant performances during the recent while in the longest format of the game. Shubman Gill has not had much of success at the number three position in Test cricket but he will definitely retain his spot after that fantastic century against England at home earlier this year. It will be a great opportunity for the youngster to prove his worth in this Indian Test team.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli will be playing his first home Test match after a span of as many as 18 months because he was not available for the five-match Test series against England. The pair of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are also back in the India Test squad after the former picked up an injury amidst the Test series against England earlier this year. After a sensational century during the Test series in South Africa, Rahul is very much likely to be part of the India playing XI during the IND vs BAN 1st Test match ahead of Sarfaraz Khan who impressed in the England home series. Pant will don the wicket-keeping gloves for India in Test cricket for the first time since escaping that life-threatening car accident and unfortunately, Dhruv Jurel will have to warm the bench especially following that amazing innings in the fourth Test match against England. 

India have picked as many as four spinners in the Test squad for the first Test match against Bangladesh set to be hosted in Chennai where the conditions will be assisting them to a great extent and the hosts are very much expected to play a total of three spinners in their playing 11. The trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel who can contribute very well both with the bat and ball are the frontrunners while leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav might have to sit out. 

On the other hand, the BCCI have named as many as four fast bowlers in the 16-member India squad namely Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and a maiden call-up for Yash Dayal following exceptional performance in the Duleep Trophy 2024. However, the duo of Bumrah and Siraj will surely be part of the India playing 11 while Dayal and Akash will warm the bench. The newly appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir might also look to accomodate as many as three pacers and just two spinners in the bowling attack. 

Strongest India Playing 11

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

India squad for 1st Test against Bangladesh

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.