Rishabh Pant has made a comeback to India’s Test cricket team for the first time since his car accident in December 2022. He is part of the squad that will face Bangladesh in their first Test match, starting later this month. However, fast bowler Mohammed Shami will miss out as he is recovering from ankle surgery.
In exciting news, left-arm fast bowler Yash Dayal has been selected for the Test team for the first time. His inclusion is part of India’s preparation for a big five-Test series in Australia, which will take place later this year. Dayal has shown great potential and has earned his spot with his impressive performances in domestic cricket.
KL Rahul, another key player, also returns to the squad. Rahul missed most of the Test series against England after playing only one match. He was forced to sit out due to a quadriceps injury. Recently, he played in the Duleep Trophy, a domestic competition in India, where he performed well. Rahul scored 37 runs in the first innings and 57 in the second innings while playing for India A.
Akash Deep, a fast bowler who made his debut in the series against England, has also retained his place in the squad. Akash caught everyone’s attention by taking nine wickets in a recent Duleep Trophy match in Bengaluru. He has continued to impress with his skills and will be a key part of India’s bowling attack.
Rishabh Pant, who is one of India’s main wicket-keepers, also performed well in the Duleep Trophy. Pant scored 7 runs in the first innings and 61 in the second innings for India B. He also took seven catches behind the stumps, showing his value as both a batsman and wicket-keeper.
Yash Dayal, who is making his debut, played a vital role in India B’s win in the Duleep Trophy match. He took three wickets in the fourth innings and has been consistently performing well. Dayal has played 24 first-class games so far, taking 76 wickets at an average of 28.89. His hard work has paid off with this maiden Test call-up.
The team also includes Dhruv Jurel as the second wicket-keeper. Jurel made his Test debut against England, where he scored 190 runs across three matches. He has shown his skills with the bat and gloves, and he will be competing for the wicket-keeping spot with Rishabh Pant.
In the bowling department, India will rely on their usual stars. Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are expected to lead the pace attack. Both have been in great form and will be crucial for India’s success. The spin bowling options include R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, who are all experienced and have delivered consistently for India in Test matches.
India’s squad for the first Test against Bangladesh looks strong and balanced. The first Test will be played in Chennai starting on September 19, and the second Test will take place in Kanpur from September 27. After the two Test matches, India and Bangladesh will also play three T20 international games.
India’s Squad for the First Test Against Bangladesh:
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- KL Rahul
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper)
- Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper)
- R Ashwin
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Akash Deep
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Yash Dayal
India will be eager to start their series against Bangladesh on a high note as they prepare for more challenging matches later in the year.
