India vs Bangladesh Tests: Virat Kohli joins the Indian squad in Chennai

Team India is set to start its training camp for the India vs Bangladesh series in Chennai on September 12, Friday. The Bangladesh Tour of India will kick off on September 19 with a Test match, followed by a final red-ball clash before the three-match ODI series starts. Virat Kohli, an integral part of the Indian red-ball setup, arrived in Chennai in the wee hours of Friday. Kohli has been in London ever since India wrapped up the 2024 T20 World Cup with a historic win in the West Indies. Having announced his retirement from T20Is, the batter returned for the ODI matches of the India Tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. However, Kohli returned to London as the Indian team noted an over-a-month-long break from national assignments. Now, with Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir headlining the preparatory camp in Chennai, Kohli has returned to the Indian squad.

Virat Kohli back in India to end an 18-month break from home Test season with the India vs Bangladesh series

The Test series against Bangladesh will mark Kohli’s red-ball return after the India Tour of South Africa, which concluded in January 2024. The ace batter sought a break from the five-match Test series against England earlier this year. Now, with the Bangladesh series ahead, Kohli will play a red-ball match at home after 18 long months. Kohli’s last Test in India was in the series against Australia back in March 2023. The top-order batter wrapped up the series with a century in Ahmedabad, his 29th ton in Test cricket.

The England Tour of India, India’s last Test assignment, concluded with the hosts winning the series 4-1. Following this, the teams engaged in a thrilling white-ball schedule, which included the T20 World Cup. Effectively, India witnessed a six-month break from the longest format, which will mark its conclusion on September 19 when the first IND vs BAN Test starts. Recently, the BCCI and India’s newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir registered a stern stance on the players’ participation in domestic cricket. The board made it clear that the Indian team selection will depend largely on domestic performances.

Consequently, main picks of the Indian setup were called up for the domestic red-ball tournament, Duleep Trophy. From Shubman Gill to KL Rahul, every player marked their presence in the Duleep Trophy. However, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah were exempted from the domestic tournament. While the likes of Bumrah and Shami missed the tournament in order to manage their injury concerns, the grounds for Kohli’s and Sharma’s absence remain unclear. Nonetheless, the red-ball break extended for Kohli, who will now play the Bangladesh Test after being out of home Test action since March 2023.

The India vs Bangladesh Test series holds remarkable significance for the team with the WTC Final swiftly approaching. While India sits at the top spot in the current WTC standings, the team needs to ensure a clinical display in the home Test season to cement its position in the WTC Final scheduled for June 2025. Bangladesh has never won a Test match against India, let alone at India’s den. Clearly, India will be the favorites to win the upcoming series, holding an unbeaten record against Bangladesh.

However, Bangladesh will arrive in India after achieving a historic clean sweep against Pakistan at the latter's home. This victory marked Bangladesh's first-ever Test series win over Pakistan. Furthermore, the victory was not a mere fluke but a dominant performance, with the visitors securing a 10-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Test. In the second and final clash, Bangladesh secured a 6-wicket win over the hosts. With the team in fine form, Bangladesh is expected to present a high-octane challenge for India.

Squads for India vs Bangladesh Test series

The India vs Bangladesh Test series will mark many notable comebacks in the Indian squad. Coming back from injuries sustained in a horrific car accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant will return to Test cricket after almost two years. Interestingly, Pant’s last Test appearance before the injury came against Bangladesh in Mirpur in December 2022. Now, fully recovered from his injuries, Pant will return to the longest format through the home series against Bangladesh.

Moreover, KL Rahul has been called up to the Indian squad as a middle-order pick. While Sarfaraz Khan was also named in the Indian squad for the first India vs Bangladesh Test, the batter has not been included in the training session in Chennai. With Khan continuing in the Duleep Trophy, KL Rahul’s place in the Playing XI for the first Test is almost confirmed.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has kept the same squad for the India tour that handed a whitewash to Pakistan recently. Only one change has been made as uncapped pick Jaker Ali replaces an injured Shoriful Islam. The India vs Bangladesh series will be followed by another home Test for India when New Zealand tours India in October this year.