Cricket

The Indian Premier League's adrenaline rush and the historic ICC T20 World Cup triumph have ignited a surge of energy within India's leading cricketers. As the nation transitions from the thrill of limited-overs cricket to the slow-burn intensity of Test cricket, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host the opening Test of the two-match series between India and Bangladesh, commencing on Thursday.Rohit Sharma's men last played a Test against England in Dharamshala in March, and now they must reset their playing style as they prepare for a series of crucial encounters against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia. These games are part of the World Test Championship, which India currently leads, making them critical for the team's progress.The upcoming clashes will also mark the beginning of Gautam Gambhir's era as coach. The former India opener, who honed his leadership skills during the ODIs in Sri Lanka, now faces the daunting task of guiding a squad in transition towards greater glory. Stepping into Rahul Dravid's shoes, Gambhir must steer the team to higher heights.India, playing on home soil, will enter the series as the favorite. However, Bangladesh, fresh from their 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi, is eager to prove their mettle against their larger neighbor. From their independence in 1971 to their Test debut in 2000, Bangladesh has always found India lending a helping hand. Yet, the desire to demonstrate their equality fuels the visitors' determination.While Dhaka recovers from political turmoil, Najmul Hossain Shanto's men continue to carry the weight of hope on their shoulders. Rawalpindi was a testament to their potential, but Chennai and Kanpur may pose greater challenges.India's return to home soil is marked by the remarkable comeback of Rishabh Pant, who has recovered from a life-threatening accident. Virat Kohli, who took a paternity break and missed the series against England, is also back in the mix. K.L. Rahul's return adds to Rohit's experienced core, providing him with a solid foundation to rely on.With Jasprit Bumrah as the spearhead and R. Ashwin leading the spin department, the Indian skipper has ample resources at his disposal. The surface is expected to favor both fast and slow bowlers, ensuring an intriguing contest.For Bangladesh, a glimpse of the Bay of Bengal upon arrival and the proximity of Greams Road, with its distinct Bengali vibe, may evoke a sense of familiarity. However, having never defeated India in a Test while being a formidable opponent in ODIs, especially during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, the Tigers face a formidable challenge.Veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan know what it takes to surprise India, but Bangladesh will need contributions from others like Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taskin Ahmed to embody that spirit.

Will O'Rourke, the towering New Zealand fast bowler, made an immediate impact in his first Test outing in Asia, tormenting the Sri Lankan batters with his pace and bounce.In his opening spell, O'Rourke unleashed a barrage of bouncers, reaching speeds of over 140kph and extracting uncomfortable bounce from his 6'4" frame. His first Test wicket on the continent came from a bouncer, as experienced opener Dimuth Karunaratne, rattled by O'Rourke's previous deliveries, edged one to the wicketkeeper.Pathum Nissanka, who had scored a century in his last Test innings, was dismissed by an even more impressive delivery, a rapid yorker that he failed to bring his bat down on in time, resulting in his stumps being shattered.O'Rourke's success in his first outing in dry conditions defied the expectations of many foreign seamers who often struggle in such conditions. "Me and Tim Southee as the pace bowlers have the role to be aggressive and bowl quick and unsettle people," O'Rourke explained.In his first five-over spell, O'Rourke claimed two wickets for 26 runs. "We probably wanted to have a bat first, but we had a bowl, and Tim and I were getting good carry, so the communication was to run in hard and hit the deck hard," he said.O'Rourke's third wicket was particularly impressive. He induced a sharp rise from the pitch to strike Angelo Mathews on the index finger, forcing him to retire hurt. When Mathews returned to the crease, O'Rourke dismissed him with another short, sharp delivery, which Mathews fended at from an awkward position."It's very special being this early on in my career bowling to legends like Angelo Mathews," O'Rourke said. "One ball maybe jumped and caught him on the finger and unsettled him a little bit. It's special to be able to bowl to greats like him and lucky enough to get his wicket at the end."O'Rourke, in his third Test, is also benefiting from the mentorship of Tim Southee, who has a wealth of experience in Sri Lanka. "Having Tim as captain is awesome," O'Rourke said. "Getting him at mid-on, or even third slip when he comes over and gives you a wee pointer - that's a big part of our team and a big part of helping me out."

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is urging his team to remain focused on the present and not dwell on their recent series victory over Pakistan as they prepare to face a formidable Indian side in the opening Test starting Thursday.Despite their impressive 2-0 away win against Pakistan, Shanto emphasized the importance of adaptability and process in order to overcome a quality team like India. "We played very good cricket against Pakistan, but that's in the past," he said. "We're here to play a new series, and we believe we can play very good cricket. We're not thinking about the outcome, but just trying to follow our processes."While conditions may vary, Shanto believes that facing a team like India, with its world-class players, requires a focus on their own strengths rather than external factors. "They're a very quality side," he said. "We're not thinking about the condition or the opponents. We're just thinking about ourselves."One of Bangladesh's key players to watch will be pacer Nahid Rana, who impressed with a match-haul of five wickets in the second Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan. However, Shanto stressed that he will not rely solely on any individual player. "He's very exciting, but I won't put my entire focus on any individual player," he said. "All the fast bowlers did a great job in Pakistan, and I hope they'll do something good here."Bangladesh has often found themselves in winning positions in white-ball cricket and even in Test matches against India, but have failed to close out games. Shanto believes that the team has gained experience and emotional control in recent years. "We're not getting too emotional," he said. "We're thinking about our game, not what will happen if we lose or win. We're just trying to give 100% every single match."Despite the potential dominance of spin on the Chepauk pitch, Shanto expressed confidence in Bangladesh's spin and pace attack. "We have a very experienced spin-bowling attack," he said. "But we also have very good pace bowlers. I'm not thinking too much about spin or pace bowling."Ultimately, Shanto believes that adaptability will be key to success. "As far as the wicket is concerned, it will be a good wicket," he said. "We will try to adapt to the wicket as soon as possible."

Harry Brook's meteoric rise in international cricket has been met with scrutiny after a series win against Sri Lanka where he averaged 30. However, Brook remains unfazed, acknowledging that he has been trying to avoid overanalyzing his approach.Brook's scores in the final Test against Sri Lanka (19 and 3) were underwhelming, but it was his manner at the crease that drew attention. He appeared frustrated when Sri Lanka bowled wide outside his off stump, leading to criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan.Despite a long season that included the T20 World Cup, six home Tests, and the Hundred, Brook remains relaxed ahead of his England captaincy debut at Trent Bridge. He admits that his Test summer did not go as planned but dismisses suggestions of mental fatigue."I probably was [feeling] a little bit [tired]," Brook said. "But if I'd have gone out and got two hundreds against Sri Lanka then I'd have been like, 'I'll just carry on'. But no, not really. I love playing cricket: I want to play as much as I possibly can."Brook's captaincy experience is limited to England Under-19s and sporadic 50-over cricket. However, he aims to keep things simple against Australia, batting at No. 4. "I'm just going to go out there and watch the ball as closely as possible," he said.Brook is standing in as captain for Jos Buttler, who is recovering from a calf injury. Buttler has encouraged Brook to identify game-changing moments in the field, something he has struggled with in ODIs.This ODI series is one of only three for England before the Champions Trophy in February. It also marks the beginning of a "strategic restructure" under new limited-overs coach Brendon McCullum. Brook believes this will lead to greater convergence between formats."We want to go out there and entertain the crowd, take the game on, try to take wickets and put the pressure on their bowlers," Brook said.After a disappointing end to the Test summer, Brook hopes that this new challenge will reinvigorate him. "The way the lads have gone about their business in training just seems so chilled at the minute," he said. "We're all looking forward to going out there and having some fun."

Rishabh Pant's return to Test cricket after a two-year hiatus is a testament to his resilience and determination. The wicketkeeper-batsman, who last played a Test match against Bangladesh in 2022, is set to make his comeback in the upcoming India-Bangladesh Test match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.Pant's journey back to the cricket field has been remarkable. In December 2022, he survived a horrific car accident that left him with multiple injuries. Despite the adversity, he has worked tirelessly to regain his fitness and form.In the interim, Dhruv Jurel has shown promise as a wicketkeeper-batsman, particularly during the home series against England. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir has emphasized the importance of Pant's presence in the team."We all know how destructive he can be (as a batter) and what he can do in Test cricket. Obviously, it gives him the freedom to go out there and express himself. He has got runs everywhere around the world," Gambhir said in the pre-match press meet.Pant recently proved his readiness for Test cricket by performing well in the Duleep Trophy for India B. In that match, he scored a swift 61 off 47 balls and excelled as a wicketkeeper, taking seven catches.Assessing his wicketkeeping skills, Gambhir noted, "Not only with his batting, he has been excellent behind the stumps as well. Probably his batting overshadows his keeping many times."Ricky Ponting, who coached Pant at Delhi Capitals, praised his enthusiasm and competitive spirit. "He's an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket. He's a winner. He doesn't just play to make a few runs and be out there for the fun of it," Ponting told Sky Sports.Pant's return to the Test arena is highly anticipated, and his performance will be closely watched as India take on Bangladesh. The wicketkeeper-batsman will be eager to prove that he is still one of the most destructive batsmen in the world and that he can be a valuable asset to the Indian team.

India's dominance at home is well-established, but Bangladesh is a team that thrives on breaking new ground. As the two sides prepare for a two-match Test series, Bangladesh aims to add another first to their growing list of achievements.Bangladesh has never defeated India in a Test match, but they have shown remarkable progress in recent years. In 2022, they secured their first Test win against New Zealand and Pakistan, and they are eager to continue their upward trajectory.India, on the other hand, is a formidable opponent. They are ranked number one in the World Test Championship standings and have not lost a Test series at home in nearly 12 years. However, they are coming off a break from the format and have several players returning from injury.The key matchup in this series will be between India's batters and Bangladesh's spinners. India's top order has shown vulnerability against quality spin bowling, and Bangladesh boasts three talented spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan, and Taijul Islam.Mehidy, in particular, has been in excellent form, contributing with both bat and ball in Bangladesh's recent series win in Pakistan. He will be looking to make a statement on a Chennai track that is expected to favor spin.India is likely to field three spinners in response, with R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav leading the attack. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are expected to lead the fast bowling unit.Bangladesh is unlikely to make significant changes to their winning team from the second Test in Pakistan. They may consider bringing Taijul into the mix alongside Shakib and Mehidy to strengthen their spin attack.The Chennai pitch is expected to provide bounce and carry for both quicks and spinners, but the surface is likely to break under the intense heat. This will mean the spinners should come into play as the Test goes on.India will be looking to extend their unbeaten home Test series streak to 18, while Bangladesh will be determined to create history by securing their first Test win against their formidable opponents.

Suryakumar Yadav, India's T20I captain, has been cleared to play in the final round of the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy, beginning on Thursday in Anantapur. He will replace Sarfaraz Khan in the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led India B team, which will face the Shreyas Iyer-led India D.Yadav had been withdrawn from the squad prior to the first round as a precautionary measure to nurse a thumb injury. He had complained of discomfort while gripping the bat after sustaining a blow on his right thumb while fielding at the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational in Coimbatore.Yadav, who hasn't featured in any form of first-class cricket since last year's Duleep Trophy, has expressed a desire to compete for a spot in India's Test team. "There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again," he said last month.Going forward, Yadav is likely to be in action next during the home T20Is against Bangladesh in October, which could mean his unavailability for at least the first round of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season that's set to kick off on October 11.India B, who opened the tournament with a thumping win over India A, are currently second in the four-team table. An outright win in their final game will give them a good chance of clinching the title.

India's cricket landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, largely attributed to the exceptional impact of Jasprit Bumrah. As the team prepares for its first Test series under Gautam Gambhir's leadership, the former opener highlights Bumrah's profound influence beyond his on-field performances."Traditionally, India has been a batting-obsessed nation," Gambhir observes. "But Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Ashwin, and Jadeja have shifted the focus towards bowling."Bumrah's remarkable statistics in just 36 Tests are a testament to his dominance. His ability to consistently take five-wicket hauls has been instrumental in India's memorable victories, including the Oval 2021, Melbourne 2018, and Visakhapatnam 2024 triumphs."Bumrah is the world's best fast bowler across all formats," Gambhir asserts. "His hunger and desire to play Test cricket are exceptional."Gambhir believes that Bumrah's presence in the dressing room is an honor and a catalyst for change. "We can make a difference at any stage of the game," he says. "Hopefully, we can continue this momentum in this series and beyond."As India embarks on its home season, the focus will inevitably shift to the spinners. Gambhir emphasizes the importance of selecting bowlers who can create an impact on both day one and day five. "Ashwin and Jadeja have been exceptional in tandem," he notes. "They have the ability to bowl defensively and aggressively, which is crucial in Test cricket."Despite India's undefeated record against Bangladesh, Gambhir cautions against complacency. "We don't change our intensity based on the opposition," he says. "International cricket demands constant hunger and determination."Gambhir is impressed by the talent pool at his disposal. "The players' passion for representing India is evident," he says. However, he acknowledges the challenges of transitioning between formats, particularly in Test cricket."Our batters have the quality to face any bowling attack," Gambhir says. "But in Test cricket, a strong defense is paramount. We need to develop our defensive skills to succeed in this format."

India's upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, commencing on Thursday, presents a crucial opportunity for the hosts to address their recent batting vulnerabilities against spin bowling. Despite boasting an impressive home record of 40-4 over the past decade, India's performance against spin has raised concerns.With a packed Test season ahead, including 10 matches and a potential berth in the World Test Championship final, India must prioritize improving their spin-bowling prowess. Bangladesh, fresh from a 2-0 series triumph over Pakistan, will pose a formidable challenge.Key Indian batters have struggled against spin in recent years. Virat Kohli's average against spin has plummeted to 30 in 15 Tests since 2021, while Rohit Sharma's has dropped to 44 over the last three years. KL Rahul has also faced difficulties, averaging a mere 23.40 against spin in his last five home Tests.Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has emphasized the need to refocus on this area, particularly after India's struggles against Sri Lanka's spinners in a recent ODI series.Bangladesh's spin attack, led by Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, will test India's batting lineup. However, Rishabh Pant has a strong average of 70 against spin in his last five matches, while Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have shown promise, albeit against a less experienced England spin attack.India's bowling lineup, featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja, appears formidable. The team management will consider whether to include a third seamer like Akash Deep or Yash Dayal or to opt for a third spinner, with Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel as options. Patel's inclusion could also strengthen the lower-order batting.New head coach Gautam Gambhir will be eager to start his tenure on a positive note. After a mixed result in the white-ball format in Sri Lanka, Gambhir will be keen for a strong start in Test cricket.This series will serve as a litmus test for India's batting lineup and set the tone for their long Test season ahead.