India vs Bangladesh: Key players and strategies for the upcoming test season

The start of a test season is always special. And when the carpet is rolled out for robust challenges that could lead to a place in the World Test Championship final, you take no chances.

India will look to put their best foot forward against Bangladesh in Chennai. This means Jasprit Bumrah leading the attack, Mohammad Siraj at the other end in the first innings anyway and R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja heading spin duties. That leaves one bowling spot and Kuldeep Yadav must take it given how well he has done across formats in recent times. If there were peripheral selection questions for the Indian team it was balancing Dhruv Jurel, as wicketkeeper, having done so well in the chances he got, against Rishabh Pant. But Pant has proved his fitness and he walks into the eleven. Sarfaraz Khan has also done his bit when asked to, but he must bide his time when KL Rahul is available and playing as he is.

This all but settles the Indian combination, and that is a good thing, for a win in the first Test will mean they have a positive win-loss record in the longest format for the first time since 1932, when they first played. A total of 579 Tests have featured India with 178 wins and as many losses, with 222 draws and one tie.

For Bangladesh, coming off a 2-0 win in Pakistan, this is a great opportunity. But history is not kind to them. Since getting Test status, Bangladesh have played India 13 times, losing 11 of those matches with two (in Bangladesh) being drawn because of rain.

In the last two World Test Championship cycles, India have had Tests against Bangladesh home and away and won them all quite comfortably.

India could well seal the deal easily, and a lot depends on how, or for how long, Bangladesh’s best batsmen can resist Bumrah. Gautam Gambhir, coach of the Indian team for a Test series for the first time, was effusive in praise.

“It has not happened many times in India where we started talking about the bowler,” Gambhir said. “I think it has always been about batters, batters and batters. India at one stage was a batting-obsessed nation. And you’ve got to give credit to Bumrah, [Mohammed] Shami, [Mohammed] Siraj, [R] Ashwin, [Ravindra] Jadeja that now they are turning this nation into a bowling-obsessed one.”

“Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world in all the three formats. And it’s not just his performance, it’s his hunger as well. The best part is that he wants to play as much Test cricket as he can. What he has done in T20 format in West Indies to what he can do in red-ball cricket, what he did against England. So, I feel it is not even a luxury, it’s an honour that we’ve got someone like Bumrah.”

Gambhir is known for not taking any opposition lightly and this is something that will be reflected in his style of leadership and coaching. “I’ve always been a believer that the best style is the style that wins,” he said. “We want to be a team that adapts and learns quickly, rather than adopting one style. Because if you start adopting one style, then there is no growth. We want guys to be playing the situation, the conditions, and then keep growing every day. All this giving a name to a certain style and playing only one way, see, ultimately sport is all about results.

Gambhir was clear that this team would not be looking at the opposition and easing off in terms of intensity. “You don’t change your intensity by looking at the opposition. International cricket means that, do you have that hunger for every session, every hour, every ball? Because, ultimately, when you are playing for your country, and when the other 15 players are playing for their country, they will be good and anyone can defeat anyone. So, changing your intensity by looking at Australia or England, I think, no high-quality side does that. And, it shouldn’t be done. A champion side is the one who sets their own standards.” Every hour, every ball.