There appears to be a will to do good among the Bangladesh cricketers whenever they face their mighty neighbours India. Ever since the Tigers’ birth in Test cricket in 2000, India have faced their rivals on just seven occasions, that too all in Bangladesh, and not more than twice at a time.
Similar to the inaugural Test match for Bangladesh, India arrived for only one Test match under the leadership of Virat Kohli for whom this is the first tour as full-time captain. The visiting team by no means carry any weak link as they are ready to face a pumped-up Bangladeshi side that floated against troubled waters and are now at a place where they can dictate proceedings.
Bangladesh might not be a big threat in the longer-version, but Team India will not take them lightly as they too have much to prove. Their last away tour to Australia was not fruitful as India lost the four-match Test series 2-0 while skipper MS Dhoni also retired from the format. New captain Kohli recently expressed his intention of turning his unit into “the team to beat” and he will want to start with today’s match at Fatullah.
On the other hand, the Tigers’ pace attack has developed under bowling coach Heath Streak while the freedom Chandika Hathurusingha offers to his players brought the best out of the side in recent months as Bangladesh made it to the World Cup quarter-final before thrashing Pakistan in the three one-day internationals and the lone Twenty20 international at home.
With Mushfiqur Rahim not keeping the wickets, Liton Kumar is set to wear his Test cap while Jubair Hossain is also likely to return to the side at the expense of Soumya Sarkar.
Soumya however, can sneak into the playing XI if the Tigers’ think-tank opts for the left-hander ahead of Nasir Hossain, who replaced Mahmudullah in the squad.
