India is set to return to Test cricket after six months, under the guidance of new coach Gautam Gambhir, as they prepare to face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting September 19 in Chennai. This series will be India’s first red-ball appearance since their commanding 4-1 victory against England in March 2024. On the other hand, Bangladesh comes into the series with momentum, having recently secured a historic clean sweep against Pakistan.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the Indian squad next week. Reports suggest that there won’t be significant changes in the lineup, with performances in the first round of the Duleep Trophy unlikely to heavily impact team selection.
Virat Kohli is set to make a highly anticipated return to the Test squad after an eight-month absence, with his last appearance in the format dating back to January 2024. Rohit Sharma will continue to captain the side, while Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to retain his position as the opening partner, forming a strong opening pair for India. Shubman Gill, who may be promoted to the vice-captain role, will resume his place at No.3, followed by Virat Kohli.
India’s latest Test debutants, Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal, are likely to keep their spots in the squad and potentially in the playing XI. This could mean Rajat Patidar, who had a below-par performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and missed the final Test due to injury, might not be selected.
India’s dependable spin-bowling all-rounders—Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel—are expected to play crucial roles, with their inclusion in the playing XI almost guaranteed, given their strong performances in home conditions.
Rishabh Pant is expected to make his return to the Test team, marking his comeback to the longest format after 634 days, following his recovery from a severe accident. Alongside him, young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel is also likely to be included in the squad. Srikar Bharat, who was the first-choice wicketkeeper during the England series before being overtaken by Jurel, may miss out on selection.
With Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested, Mohammed Siraj is set to lead India’s pace attack. Kuldeep Yadav is expected to retain his spot in the squad, providing a spin option alongside the all-rounders. The final spot in the pace department could see a competition between Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh, with the latter possibly making his Test debut. While there were earlier discussions about Mohammed Shami returning for the Bangladesh series, it now appears that he might be back only for the New Zealand series.
Tentative Squad for the Bangladesh Series:
Openers: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal
Middle-order: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal
All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin
Wicketkeepers: Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel
Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep/Arshdeep Singh