Can Bangladesh challenge India after overcoming Pakistan? 1st Test preview
India's much-awaited home season will begin with the two-Test series against Bangladesh, the first of which starts on September 19 at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India boast a formidable Test record at home, having remained unbeaten in over a decade. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are coming off a historic 2-0 series win in Pakistan. They will aim to shake India's home dominance.
Venue, pitch, and streaming details
As mentioned, Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium will host the series opener. The pitches at this venue have a history of assisting spinners. Therefore, both sides could play three specialist spinners. The Sports18 Network will broadcast the match live, while live-streaming is available on the JioCinema app. While the first day's play will begin at 9:30am IST, toss will take place 30 minutes prior.
Will rain play spoilsport?
As per AccuWeather, passing showers could affect the first day's play. The detailed weather forecast predicts a temperature of 34°C on Day 1. Moreover, there is an 8% chance of thunderstorms and a 41% probability of precipitation. The morning is expected to be cloudy with a cloud cover of around 60%. The weather forecast for the subsequent days also indicates potential disruptions.
India vs Bangladesh: Head-to-head record
India and Bangladesh have locked horns 13 times in Test cricket, with the former winning 11. While two matches ended in a draw, Bangladesh are yet to register a Test win against India.
Team India's Test record in Chennai
As per ESPNcricinfo, India have played 34 Tests in Chennai to date (1934-2021). The hosts have won 15, drawn 11, and lost 8 Test matches here. India won the 2nd Test in 2021 against England by 317 runs, the highest win margin at Chennai. India's worst loss here came in 1949 against the West Indies, as they lost by an innings and 193 runs.
A look at Probable XIs
India (Probable XI): Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Bangladesh (Probable XI): Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wicket-keeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Nahid Rana.
Milestones for these Indian players
Kohli is set to become the fourth player with 27,000 runs in international cricket. He will also be the fastest to this mark. Meanwhile, Rohit is closing in on 20,000 runs across formats. Ashwin could surpass Courtney Walsh (519) and Nathan Lyon (530) in terms of Test wickets. Jadeja is on the brink of completing 300 Test wickets. He also eyes a special double.
