India is getting ready to host Bangladesh in a Test series, with Bangladesh looking more confident than ever. While India is the favorite, as usual, this Bangladesh team seems to be in great form, especially after their recent win against Pakistan on their home ground.
Bangladesh’s Strength: Experienced Spinners
What makes Bangladesh different from most teams is their experienced spin attack. With all-rounders like Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh brings a strong spin unit, much like India with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Plus, their batters are generally better at handling spin than players from countries like England or Australia. This makes the two-match Test series in Chennai and Kanpur very exciting.
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Key Battles to Watch
Mushfiqur Rahim vs Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja
Mushfiqur Rahim is one of the few Bangladesh players with a good record in India. He has played only three Tests here but has scored 331 runs at an impressive average of 55.16, with one century and two fifties. Bangladesh’s success depends heavily on how their players handle India’s top spinners, Ashwin and Jadeja, and Mushfiqur will play a vital role in this. He’s already practicing different types of sweep shots in Chennai to prepare for the challenge.
Virat Kohli vs Bangladesh Spinners
Virat Kohli has regained his status as one of the best batters in the world, especially in ODIs and T20Is, after struggling from 2019 to 2021. Although he has scored some Test centuries recently, there’s been talk of him falling behind Joe Root in the race for the top Test batter. With 10 upcoming Test matches, Kohli has a chance to shine again, but spin bowling has troubled him in the past. Shakib and Miraz will be eager to test him, and how Kohli handles their bowling could shape his Test season.
Indian Openers vs Nahid Rana
If India prepares pace-friendly pitches, as they did when Bangladesh last toured, Nahid Rana will be a major threat. Known for bowling at speeds between 145-150kph, Rana, along with Hasan Mahmud, was key in Bangladesh’s comeback win against Pakistan. India’s opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will need to be ready for the challenge.
Jasprit Bumrah vs Shadman Islam
On the other side, Bangladesh’s openers face their own tough task, especially against Jasprit Bumrah. Shadman Islam has shown his ability as a Test opener, especially with a patient 93 against Pakistan. However, facing Bumrah, who is returning after a long break, will be one of the toughest challenges. Bumrah, even in spin-friendly conditions, has proven to be a deadly bowler.
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