IND vs BAN 1st Test Live Score: After competing against each other in a thrilling ODI series the action now shifts to the largest format of cricket. Indian team who will march into this series on the back of a 2-0 loss in the ODIs would hope to bounce back & win the crucial Test series which is a part of the WTC 2021-2023 cycle. On the other hand, Bangladesh is out of contention to qualify for the WTC final but still, they will try their best to win this series to play a spoilsport in India’s chances to qualify for the finals.
India Preview
Injury-hit Indian team would gather all the available resources & try to field a competent XI in the IND vs BAN 1st Test. Keeping the heartbreak from World Cup losses, series losses, and injuries aside Indian team would try their best to qualify for the WTC finals by winning these crucial Test series. India is currently sitting at the fourth position on the WTC 2021-2023 table behind Australia, South Africa & Sri Lanka. However, they still have six Test fixtures left in the cycle i.e. two against Bangladesh & four against Australia & they need to win at least one of them by hook or crook to keep themselves in contention for the WTC final.
Coming to the team, India will be without the services of their key players, Rohit Sharma (who has been ruled out of the first Test due to an injury), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami & Ravindra Jadeja who all are recovering from injuries. The onus will come on Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli to step up & deliver for the team. Abhimanyu might come in place of Rohit Sharma which will add more depth to India’s batting line-up. In the bowling department, the onus will be on Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin & Umesh Yadav to step up & deliver with the new ball in hand. Jaydev Unadkat won’t be available for selection in today’s fixture as he hasn’t reached Chattogram yet. The last time India played a Test in Bangladesh was back in 2015 which ended in a draw & Indian team would try to maintain their record of not losing a Test by winning this fixture.
Bangladesh Preview
Bangladesh didn’t have an upper hand over India in the Test format as they never won any match against Men in Blue. However, the hosts now possess a potent team & they would aim to try to turn the table around. Bangladesh got the better of England & Australia with a lethal spin attack at home conditions but they suffered 2-0 whitewashes against West Indies & Pakistan in 2021 followed by a 1-0 series loss against Sri Lanka in 2022.
Bangladesh too would be without the services of Taskin Ahmed who has been ruled out of injury followed by the absence of Shakib-Al-Hasan who couldn’t make a cut to the Test squad after being hit on his rib cage by Umran’s fierce delivery in the second ODI. He is now under observation & further updates on his condition will be known today.
In the absence of Shakib-Al-Hasan & Litton Das will have to do power-hitting & amass runs. Bangladesh has included Zakir Hasan in the squad who will make his debut on the back of his blistering 173 against India A in their shadow series. It looks like Bangladesh might have an upper edge over India which is reeling with injuries.
Match Details
Match: India vs Bangladesh, 1st Test
Date & Time: December 14, 9:00 AM
Venue: Chattogram
Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network
IND vs BAN Probable Playing XIs
India
Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur
Bangladesh
Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain
