India is starting their Test season with a two-match series at home against Bangladesh. This will be their first Test series since the teams faced off in Bangladesh in December 2022. Many of India’s top Test cricketers will be participating.
The first Test is set to take place at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on September 19, followed by the second in Kanpur on September 27. After the Test series, Bangladesh will also play three T20 matches in Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
India played Bangladesh in their first-ever Test match back in 2000. However, between 2010 and 2015, the two teams didn’t face each other in red-ball cricket. As a result, many Indian players have limited experience against Bangladesh in Test matches.
Let’s look at how some of India’s senior players have performed against Bangladesh:
Virat Kohli’s Test Record Against Bangladesh
Virat Kohli has played six Tests against Bangladesh, scoring 437 runs with an average of 54.62. He has made two centuries, both as captain. The first was a brilliant 204 off 246 balls in Hyderabad in 2017, leading India to a 208-run victory. His second century came during India’s first pink-ball Test at the Eden Gardens in 2019, where Kohli scored 136 off 194 balls. India won that match by an innings and 130 runs.
Rohit Sharma’s Record Against Bangladesh
Rohit Sharma, India’s current captain, missed the 2022 Bangladesh series due to injury, meaning his Test record against them is minimal. He has only played three Tests against Bangladesh, scoring a total of 33 runs. He will certainly be aiming to improve this record in the upcoming series.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Performance Against Bangladesh
Like Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin has featured in all six Tests against Bangladesh since 2015. He has taken 23 wickets at an average of 26.78, including one five-wicket haul. In addition to his bowling, Ashwin has contributed with the bat, scoring 157 runs at an impressive average of 39.25, with one half-century.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Record in Tests Against Bangladesh
Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin’s long-time spin partner, has played three Tests against Bangladesh. Though he has only taken six wickets, Jadeja has scored 148 runs, including two half-centuries. Remarkably, he has been dismissed only once in his four innings, which came in his most recent match.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Test Opportunity Against Bangladesh
Jasprit Bumrah, India’s leading fast bowler, was unexpectedly selected for this series as he was expected to return for the New Zealand series. This will be Bumrah’s first-ever Test series against Bangladesh. He missed out on the 2019 home series and was injured for the December 2022 tour.
This upcoming series offers a chance for several Indian players to build or improve their Test records against Bangladesh.
