BAN vs IND, 1st Test: Head to Head, Playing XI, Preview, Where to Watch on TV, Online, and Live Streaming Details

India will square off against hosts Bangladesh in the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, commencing on December 14. The visitors head into the contest with plenty of injury concerns and even more unanswered questions regarding their best eleven.

Following the disappointing ODI series loss against Bangladesh earlier this month, India will hope that their record-setting victory in the third and final ODI will provide a necessary shot in the arm in pursuit of vital WTC points in the upcoming Test series. The injury to Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who missed the third ODI, has led to the appointment of KL Rahul as the stand-in skipper for the series opener.

While India are chasing a spot in the WTC final next year, their opponents, Bangladesh, are languishing at the bottom of the points table. They have lost eight of their ten matches in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 and will be up against it against a buoyant Indian side.

Pitch Conditions 

The surface at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium will suit the batters in the earlier stages of the match due to its benign nature. However, the pitch has traditionally assisted the spinners after deteriorating rapidly post day 3. Both sides boast world-class spinners in their ranks and are evenly matched in the bowling department.

Playing Combinations for BAN vs IND 

Bangladesh 

The home side will be up against it despite several key Indian players missing from the series. Their biggest asset will be their spin twins Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who were sensational for the hosts in the recently concluded ODI series.

Predicted Playing XI 

Litton Das (c), Anamul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain

India 

KL Rahul will lead India in the series opener in the absence of injured Rohit Sharma, who is a doubt for the second Test as well. The management decided to name Cheteshwar Pujara the deputy to Rahul in a bizarre move even though Rishabh Pant was named in the squad.

Predicted Playing XI 

Shubhman Gill, KL Rahul (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

BAN vs IND Head-to-Head 

Played –11, IND – 9, BAN – 0, Draw- 2

BAN vs IND Broadcast & Live Streaming Details 

Match Timings- 9:00 AM IST  

TV- Sony Sports Network 

Streaming- SonyLiv App and ICC.tv