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The Indian cricket team is gearing up to resume their international fixtures with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The first Test is set to begin on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This will mark India’s return to Test cricket after their recent 0-2 ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh’s recent success and Dinesh Karthik’s ultimate verdict
Bangladesh’s recent performance, including their first-ever Test series victory against Pakistan, has drawn significant attention. This triumph has pushed them to No. 4 in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Bangladesh’s seam bowlers Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud have been in impressive form as they together destroyed Pakistan in the second Test at Rawalpindi.
However, despite their recent success, former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik believes Bangladesh may not pose a significant challenge to India on their home soil. Speaking to Cricbuzz, he highlighted the difficulty of winning in India.
“I personally don’t think that Bangladesh will give India a tough time. Beating India in India is a humongous task, and although Bangladesh has played well in Pakistan, I don’t believe they’ll trouble India much,” Karthik said.
IND vs BAN: Pitch and Team strategy
Karthik has speculated that India might opt for pace-friendly pitches for the series, anticipating that this strategy could play to their strengths. He mentioned the possibility of young pacer Harshit Rana making the squad and predicted that India might employ three seamers alongside two spinners. “Could there be a chance for Harshit Rana? I thought he bowled very well, something very special about him. I get the feeling India’s going to play on slightly pace-oriented pitches, knowing that it’s a good way to beat Bangladesh. Also, they will be preparing for the Australian Test series,” the former-wicketkeeper added.
Also READ: Bangladesh unveils a strong squad for the upcoming Test series against India
Player evaluations and Team dynamics
Karthik has also commented on the return of key players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. He praised Rahul’s progress as a wicketkeeper but noted the physical demands of Test cricket could pose challenges. However, Karthik also acknowledged Rahul’s struggles with injuries and the demanding nature of Test match keeping. “KL Rahul is a very good keeper, who has improved a lot. And I don’t think it’s fair to call him a part-time wicketkeeper anymore. Keeping in Test cricket is hard work across five days, and he’s had his struggles with injuries,” Karthik concluded.
India and Bangladesh: Historical performance and expectations
Historically, India have dominated Bangladesh in Test matches. Since their first encounter in 2000, India have won 11 out of 13 Tests against Bangladesh, with only two draws. Despite Bangladesh’s recent improvements, including a series win over Pakistan, they have yet to secure a victory against India in red-ball cricket. The upcoming series represents a significant challenge for Bangladesh, as India has been formidable at home, with their last series defeat on home soil occurring in 2012.
