It has raised eyebrows particularly among the cricketing specialists and analysts that India went along with three pacers instead of two spinners, especially at MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai, where spin is preferred, for the first Test of the two test series against Bangladesh.
Regarding the composition of India’s playing eleven after Bangladesh opted to bowl first yesterday, Rohit made it known that they have gone in with three seamers and two spinners.
Bangladesh’s playing eleven was also the same as India as three pacers and two spinners were included, meaning both the captains seemed to think there would be some help from the wicket to the fast men first thing in the morning session.
Rohit confirmed that.
“I would have done that (bowl first) as well. It’s a little soft, the pitch. It’s going to be challenging conditions. In preparation, we, and as a result, should believe in our ability and execute the plans as we are accustomed to,” said Rohit at the toss.
“Considering the 10 Tests (2 against Bangladesh, 3 versus New Zealand, and 5 during Australia tour), each and every match is significant. But we want to concentrate on what is in front of us. We came here a week back, we had a good prep coming into this one. We are feeling confident. 3 seamers and 2 spinners – (Jasprit) Bumrah, Akash Deep, (Mohammed Siraj, (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja,” add the vice-captain of the national team of India.
Former Indian wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik, while analyzing the track at the pitch report stated that “There will be a start by fast bowlers”.
“Today is a day very different from what we are used to in Chennai – It is very warm but kind and cool 28 degree at the moment. But as the day passes on it is promising to go like 33-34 which is the Chennai we all so well know,” queried Karthik.
24-year-old rookie pacer Hasan Mahmud of Bangladesh proved what both Karthik and the captains were feeling as he ripped through the upper order of India’s batting line-up in only his second over. Mahmud struck out the fancied Indian batting order scalping Rohit Sharma (6), a duck for Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli (6) and that too in successive overs leaving visitors reeling at 34 for 3 inside 10 overs.
Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana are the other fast bowlers in the composition of Bangladesh playing eleven.
THE RED SOIL PITCH
“Let’s talk about the pitch. It’s a red soil pitch. And red soil means what? Bounce, turn and with the course of the game, the huge spinners come in play. This is Karthik this time at the pitch report.” They have left a little bit of residual moisture underneath the pitch. Fast bowlers will have their way made at the start.”
The overcast Chennai skies, the red-soil pitch and a relatively moist track complemented the reason for both the teams electing to go with a pace-heavy bowling attack and opted to bowl first on this track. Hence the captains also included three pacers in the playing eleven of their respective teams.
Only on the ninth occasion the opposition team has forced India to bat first in a Test match on Indian soil. Out of the previous eight instances, six were draws whereas Australia won the other two matches without losses by way of 10 wickets.
And interestingly, the last occasion when India fielded three fast bowlers in a home Test match was also against Bangladesh. In both Tests against them in 2019, India had Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami in their fast bowling line-up.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj
Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana
