Doing the onerous yards: Kohli, who will look to beat his struggles in opposition to leftarm spin, sweats it out at a follow session.
Not all matches are gained within the first innings. But very many are misplaced. It is that this menace that Bangladesh has to protect in opposition to to stop a clear sweep when it welcomes India to the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium for the second and closing Test from Thursday.
In Chattogram, the guests had been 48 for 3 within the first innings, solely to be let off the hook. Bangladesh then collapsed for 150 in its opening essay at hand India the initiative, which Okay.L. Rahul & Co. capitalised on to document a thumping 188-run victory.
In distinction to the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium wicket, which eased up for batting after a tough first day, the one in Mirpur is anticipated to be extra spin-friendly. South African legend Allan Donald, who’s the hosts’ fast-bowling coach, confirmed the identical on match-eve, and even gladdened a number of native hearts with the news that skipper Shakib Al Hasan was match to renew his all-rounder duties.
The 35-year-old bowled simply 12 overs of his left-arm spin within the first Test due to a rib damage, and the hope is for him to mix effectively with the in-form Taijul Islam. The Indian nets, predictably, had a justifiable share of left-arm spin, with Kuldeep Yadav and an area web bowler feeding the batters sufficient.
Formidable batting line-up
But whatever the energy of the Bangladesh bowling – which may also be bolstered by speedster Taskin Ahmed’s return – the Indian batting line-up stays formidable. That it managed to win the primary Test with out two of its greatest batters in Rahul and Virat Kohli getting huge runs is sufficient proof that there are larger gears it could actually shift into.
Rohit Sharma’s unavailability means Shubman Gill will get an opportunity to construct on his vastly satisfying century, albeit on what is anticipated to be a extra testing wicket. That Shreyas Iyer, arguably India’s greatest participant of spin, is in high quality fettle after a wonderful, match-turning 86 ought to give confidence.
Skipper Rahul had a scare when he needed to cease batting throughout Wednesday’s coaching after being hit on his proper hand off a throwdown. He winced in ache, dropped the bat and shook his hand vigorously and was quickly attended to by the medical employees. But batting coach Vikram Rathour, in his pre-match media briefing, stated that it didn’t “look serious.”
Abhimanyu Easwaran is the reserve opener ought to Rahul not have the ability to play, and the Bengal batter was energetic within the nets, beneath the watchful eyes of each Rahul Dravid and Paras Mhambrey.
The bowling will decide itself, with the spin trio of R. Ashwin, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav anticipated to do a bulk of the heavy lifting as India seeks very important World Test Championship factors. Bangladesh can ill-afford the form of impatience it displayed within the first innings of the opening Test.
It can take a leaf out of Zakir Hasan’s pocket book, whose century on debut was a top-draw efficiency. But Zakir himself might be a pursued man now and a sophomore’s take a look at is the hardest there’s.
The groups (from): India: Okay.L. Rahul (Capt.), Cheteshwar Pujara (Vice-Capt.), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Okay.S. Bharat, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Saurabh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat.
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (Capt.), Litton Das (Vice-Capt.), Mahmudul Hasan, Najmul Hossain, Mominul Haque, Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Zakir Hasan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Nasum Ahmed.
Umpires: Chris Brown & SIS Saikat
TV Umpire: Michael Gough
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle
Match begins at 9 a.m. IST
