India Name Strong Squad For Bangladesh Tests, Virat Kohli To Lead

India have named a strong squad for the Bangladesh Test series. with Virat Kohli, who has been rested for the T20I series, making a comeback to lead the team. All the members of the squad who were a part of the South Africa series have been retained, barring Shahbaz Nadeem, who had joined the squad for the third Test.

The Indian skipper has, on occasions, reiterated that the team is focussed on winning the ICC Test championship and it is unlikely that any key player would be rested during course of the championship.

Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal will continue to open the innings. The experienced campaigners gave strong signs of solving India’s opening conundrum and will hope to continue their form in the series.

Rishabh Pant, who was expected to be dropped, was retained in the squad along with Shubman Gill, who will have to wait for his debut.

The Indian team maagement might rotate pacers in the series and a likely rest for Mohammed Shami is on the cards. Ishant Sharma was kept out of playing XI in the third Test against South Africa but he is expected to be included in the playing XI in one of the Tests.

Kuldeep, who missed the third Test due to shoulder issue, is expected to play his first Test of the season. Nadeem, who made his Test debut in Ranchi, was not included as Kuldeep has been declared fit. Though the chinaman has not been selected in the T20I squad.

It will be just the second time that Bangladesh will play a bilateral Test series in India. The last time they travelled to India for a Test in 2017, India defeated the visitors by 208 runs.

The two Test matches of the series will be played from November 14 with the first Test to be played in Indore. Eden Gardens, Kolkata will host the second Test from November 22. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be present during the second Test. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to attend the first day of the Test.

Squad: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Saha (wk), R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant