After over a month-long break, the Men in Blue are back on the field, starting what will be a packed season with the Bangladesh series. The team is fully prepared and eager for the upcoming challenges. With the toss completed, one notable absence from the Indian lineup is Sarfaraz Khan, who misses out on the first Test against Bangladesh. Despite his exclusion, excitement is high as India gears up for an intense season opener, setting the stage for an action-filled series.
Sarfaraz Khan Misses out on the First Test:
KL Rahul participated in only one Test during the series against England before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the matches. In his absence, Sarfaraz stepped in to fill the No. 5 batting position for the final three Tests. However, Rahul has since recovered and made his comeback for the first Test against Bangladesh. As a result, Sarfaraz has been left out of the playing XI for the match. This reshuffle in the lineup highlights Rahul’s pivotal role and Sarfaraz’s temporary exclusion.
In a press conference, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir mentioned that with KL Rahul returning to the squad, Sarfaraz Khan will need to be patient for now. He emphasized that Sarfaraz remains a crucial part of the team and will get his chance to play when the team requires his skills. This statement highlights the depth of the squad and Sarfaraz’s future opportunities.
Toss Update:
Bangladesh opted to field after winning the toss, choosing to put the opposition in to bat first. Their decision to bowl reflects confidence in their bowling attack and aims to capitalize on early conditions. The strategy is to restrict the batting side to a manageable total and later chase it down. This approach highlights Bangladesh’s intent to control the game’s momentum right from the start.
During the toss, Rohit said, “ I would have done that as well (bowl first). Little soft, the pitch. It’s going to be challenging conditions. We have prepared well, so we should back our potential and play the way we know. Looking at the 10 Test matches, every match is important. But we want to focus on what lies in front of us. We came here a week back, we had a good prep leading up to this one. We feel confident. Three seamers and two spinners – Bumrah, Akash Deep, Siraj, Ashwin and Jadeja.”
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India’s Playing 11 vs Bangladesh:
Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj
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