Ind vs Ban 1st Test: Form guide, pitch and weather report, probable playing 11s

India take on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting on Thursday, 14th November. The first Test will be played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Thursday. The second Test will be India’s first Day-Night Test match. The 2nd Test is to be played at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It will also be the first Day-Night Test match to be played in the Indian subcontinent.

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Ind vs Ban: Preview

India’s home record in the last six years has been staggering. They’ve played a total of 32 Tests, winning 26, drawing 5 and losing just one. India come into the series having dismantled South Africa in a 3-0 whitewash last month. India have won every Test match they have played in the 2019-21 World Test Championship cycle so far, and have already accumulated a mind-boggling 240 points.

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Bangladesh have an uphill task of defeating India at home, something only Australia has once managed since 2013. To make matters worse, Bangladesh are without two of their most experienced Test players, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. While Shakib was banned by ICC for failing to report corruption, Tamim opted out of the tour due to the birth of his second child. Bangladesh will look at the series as an opportunity to give the young guns a chance and might hope they can unearth some gems on this tour.

Ind vs Ban Form Guide:

India have won the last 5 Test matches, with a 2-0 whitewash of West Indies away from home, followed by the 3-0 whitewash of South Africa at home. Bangladesh come into the series having lost their last 3 Tests, losing one against Afghanistan, while losing twice away to New Zealand. This is Bangladesh’s first series in the World Test Championship cycle and they would look forward to starting Ind vs Ban series on a positive note.

Also Read: Wriddhiman Saha Set To Break MS Dhoni's Record Against Bangladesh In First Test

Ind vs Ban: Pitch and Weather Report

The pitch in Indore is known to assist the batsman. There’s always a bit of bounce encouraging batsman to play their strokes. There’s a tinge of grass on the surface, so the pacers are expected to make most of the new ball. The skies are clear and the weather is warm but pleasant and the expected temperature is around 20 degree Celsius. The Holkar Stadium in Indore has only hosted one Test so far when New Zealand toured India in 2016. India handed New Zealand a mammoth 321-run defeat after Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane scored mammoth hundreds. Ashwin picked up his career-best figures of 13/140 in the match.

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Ind vs Ban Probable XI

With the pitch having a tinge of grass, India are expected to go with 3 pacers in a 5-bowler attack as they did in the last 2 Test matches against South Africa,

India: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami.

Bangladesh have to make a choice between Saif Hassan and Imrul Kayes at the top-order. Bangladesh will be tempted to play Saif, who has been in good form and recently scored a double-century in the National Cricket League. Mossadek Hossain has reportedly left for Dhaka due to a family emergency and is unavailable for the match. Another major decision for Bangladesh would be selecting one of Mustafizur Rahman and Ebadot Hossain to partner Abu Jayed. Considering Mustafizur’s torrid run against India in the T20Is, Hossain could get a look in.

Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed and Ebadat Hossain.