IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Rohit Sharma to go with three pacers in Chennai? Check India’s predicted XI

Chennai: The Indian team are likely to go with three pacers against Bangladesh in the first Test that starts on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The Indian players have practiced on the red soil pitch for two days before shifting on a deck made of black soil. Notably, the first Test is likely to be played on the red-soil track which is expected to assist the pacers. With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj certain to be in the playing XI, the team management will have to decide on whether they opt for a third pacer in Akash Deep or Yash Dayal, or opt for a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav.

While Akash Deep has played just a single Test match, Dayal will be making his debut in national colours if selected. The nature of the pitch, predominantly favouring the quicker bowlers, will force the Indian management to pick the eleven for the opening Test carefully.

Fielding three pacers will also be more realistic for the Indian team that may align with India’s strategy of giving a much look-in for their fast bowlers ahead of their gruelling tour to Australia, starting in November this year. “It’s really hot here in Chennai for the last couple of weeks, with the temperature touching late 30s. Even though I heard that the pitch is sufficiently getting watered, the extreme heat could lead to its disintegration as the match progresses.

“It will bring the spinners into action as the match moves on. So, that could be the reason the batsmen were preparing for the turning ball,” a veteran curator told PTI. The Indian team is expected to go through an optional net session on Wednesday.

It is true in the case of Indian batters as they had recently come unstuck against Sri Lankan spinners. The likes of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and even star batter Virat Kohli could not force the pace against the Lankan tweakers in that white ball series.

It was not really a surprising sight to see some of them working rigorously to perfect the art of playing spin on the day as Bangladesh have a clutch of experienced slow bowlers in their ranks.

India’ Predicted XI vs Bangladesh in 1st Test: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav/Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.