India vs Bangladesh 2019: 2nd Test - Bangladesh's Predicted Playing XI

Bangladesh will hope to create history when they play their first day-night Test against India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata starting from November 22 (Friday). Incidentally, nineteen years ago in 2000, the Bangla Tigers made their entry into Test cricket playing their first game against India. Bangladesh will be bracing for another first after beating India for the first time in a T20I game in the tour opener.

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The visitors will ponder over their playing XI and will face the dilemma of playing an extra fast bowler in place of Mohammad Mithun, who had a mild outing in the last Test. Imrul Kayes will continue at the top-order young Saif Hassan ruled with an injury. Otherwise, the playing XI is likely to remain the same for the pink-ball Test which will see Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasin in attendance to ring the customary bell to start the Test match.

It will be a full house at Eden Gardens with the tickets of the first four days already sold. Bangladesh, who currently toil at the lower half of the ICC Rankings will hope to put a better effort than that from Indore.

Here is the predicted playing XI of Bangladesh for the historic day-night Test against India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata:

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Imrul Kayes

Imrul Kayes is one of the senior-most cricketers in this line-up. The southpaw endured a horrific Test at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. Imrul needs to take the onus on himself and keep India’s new-ball bowlers at bay to give Bangladesh side a solid opening start in Kolkata as they aim to end the series on a possitive note.

Shadman Islam

Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam fell prey to Ishant Sharma in both the innings of the first Test. The southpaw struggled badly against the Indian new ball bowlers. He will have to put his head down and focus on his basics to score runs to give his side a good start.

Mominul Haque

Mominul Haque will have to lead the team from the front with big scores with the bat. He got a good start scoring 37 runs in the first innings but excellent outings from Indian bowlers halted his innings. The experienced left-handed batsman will have to raise his hand and do the job for his side.

Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim was the only Bangladesh batsman to form any kind of resilience against the Indian bowlers in the first Test. After a valiant 43 in the first innings, Rahim backed it with a fifty in the second. However, he will have to convert those scores to daddy hundreds if the visitors want to give them any chance of levelling the series.

Mahmudullah

Mahmudullah looked clueless against Indian bowlers in both the innings at the Holkar Stadium. He is one of the most senior cricketers in the line-up and needs to step up when Bangladesh need the most. The management will hope Mahmudullah to score runs on the board in the historic day-night Test.

Liton Das

Liton Das needs to improve his batting to seal his berth in the playing XI. He returned with poor figures in the last Test as Bangladesh struggled to find batsmen in order to create resistance against Indian bowlers. Liton needs to shoulder responsibility in the middle-order and put up a better effort with the wicket-keeping gloves on.

Mehidy Hasan

There have been a lot of expectations from Mehidy Hasan but the cricketer has failed to deliver. Bangladesh management will hope Mehidy to deliver the goods with both bat and ball at Eden Gardens as they look to put up a much-improved effort in the final game of the tour.

Taijul Islam

Taijul Islam has looked out of form in the last match against India at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. He couldn’t make any breakthroughs and will only look to put up a better performance on the occasion of the day-night Test in Kolkata.

Abu Jayed

Abu Jayed was the lone bowler for Bangladesh to make an impact in the first Test. He will hope to keep up his excellent work with the pink ball and the Bangla Tigers will be desperate to make a comeback and end the series in a draw.

Ebadat Hossain

Ebadat Hossain is another bowler who can make it to the playing XI. He has the height and pace needed for a fast bowler to exploit the wicket on offer. The right-arm pacer who is yet to cement his spot in the playing XI will be looking forward to this historic occasion of the day-night Test against India to justify his selection.

Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman needs to step up if Bangladesh wants to give themselves any chances of the levelling the series or keep the match in a draw. The left-arm didn’t play the first game and will hope to deliver the goods and justify his selection.