Buoyed by their recent series victory against Pakistan, Bangladesh will enter the Tests against India with renewed confidence. However, the first Test in Chennai is expected to present significant challenges, particularly for Bangladesh's batting line-up, which displayed vulnerabilities even during their 2-0 triumph in Rawalpindi.
In the series against Pakistan, Bangladesh's top four consisted solely of left-handers, all of whom struggled against in-swinging deliveries. Right-arm pacer Khurram Shahzad capitalised on this weakness multiple times throughout the series.
Facing India, Bangladesh will likely contend with the formidable pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj. These right-arm pacers are considerably faster than Shahzad and are expected to target this evident frailty in Bangladesh's batting.
The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is anticipated to further complicate matters for the batsmen. In the last two Tests held at this venue, England secured a victory in one, while India claimed the other during the 2021 series. Joe Root's double century led England to a commanding 227-run win on a flat, slow surface. India responded with an even more emphatic 317-run victory in the second Test, amidst complaints from the English side about the 'sandpit' nature of the pitch.
Bangladesh has historically struggled on rank turners, even on home soil. In India, spin plays an even more crucial role, with pitches offering significant turn. With Ravichandran Ashwin spearheading the spin attack and Bumrah leading a potent pace battery, the experienced and skilled Indian bowlers, combined with the pronounced seam of the SG balls used in India, will pose a formidable challenge for the Bangladeshi batsmen.
India commenced their practice sessions in Chennai on Friday under the guidance of their new coaching staff, led by Gautam Gambhir. The team's strategy for the upcoming busy Test season, which includes series against New Zealand and Australia in pace-friendly conditions abroad, remains to be seen.
India might opt to unsettle Bangladesh with spin, given the conducive conditions, but the pitches may also offer something for the pacers, aiding their preparation for the forthcoming away series.
Sridharan Sriram, Bangladesh's former technical consultant and a native of Chennai, remarked that 'anything is possible' regarding the pitch conditions in Chennai. "Many have asked me about Chennai, but honestly, I don't know as I've been in the UK and haven't visited the stadium since the IPL. It all depends on the grass cover on the square. I don't know what the Indian team management's preferences are," Sriram told the media on Friday. Thus, Bangladesh's batsmen are set for a stern examination as they gear up for the first Test.
