New Delhi: India would be in no mood to relent in the second Test that begins in Kanpur on Friday after a dominating win over Bangladesh in the first match in Chennai.
The home team won by 280 runs inside four days at the Chepauk stadium and would like another similar performance at the Green Park stadium to complete a series win.
Not much went wrong for India in Chennai and the manner in which keeper-batter Rishabh Pant marked his return to the Test team after a car accident in December 2022 with a century must have delighted the team’s think-tank.
They would want skipper Rohit Sharma and star batters Virat Kohli and KL Rahul to be aming runs too, with an eye on the three Tests against New Zealand at home followed by a five-match tour of Australia.
Combinations in mind
The pitch at Green Park has been low and slow throughout the years and is expected to behave similary throughout the next five days, which opens up the possibility of playing three spinners for India.
In 2021, the last time a Test match was played at the venue, India did go in with three spinners in R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. That option is again available should India want it.
Shakib announces retirement
After receiving a drubbing in Chennai, suddenly the euphoria of winning their maiden Test series against Pakistan has vanished from the Bangladesh camp.
Add to that the announcement of Shakib Al Hasan, who said the Kanpur Test could be his last in red-ball cricket if he is not allowed to play in Bangladesh’s home series against South Africa.
The visitors would need every bit of Shakib’s quality and determination if they are to make a mark in the match, though doubts remain over his availability after a finger injury sustained in Chennai.
Forecast of rain
There are forecasts of rain in the first and third days with heat and humidity posing a significant challenge for the players.
India kept their Thursday’s training optional as they wanted to protect the home-grown players from heat.
Teams (from):
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Jaker Ali Anik.
Match details
India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test match begins at 9.30 AM IST
Live on Sports 18 network and Jio Cinema app
India take on Bangladesh in the second Test in Kanpur from Friday after winning the first match in Chennai by 280 runs Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
