India went in with three fast bowlers in the 2024 Chepauk Test against Bangladesh. This is the first time since 2019/20 that they did that in a Test match on home soil.
For years, India have gone in with three spinners for home Test matches. For the Test series against Bangladesh, too, they were widely expected to pick Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Axar Patel to support R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
However, while they did retain Ashwin and Jadeja, there was no third spinner for the first Test of the two-match series, at Chennai. Along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who were almost certain to be picked, they picked Akash Deep.
They were not alone in this. Bangladesh, who boast of arguably the strongest spin attack outside India, left out the experienced Taijul Islam and went in with three fast bowlers – Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana – along with the spinners, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
It was not only that. This is the 35th Test match at Chepauk, but only the second time that the side winning the toss opted to field. England captain did put India in “on an extremely lively pitch” in 1981/82, and India reached 49-1 at lunch after 24 overs of attrition and an intense duel between Bob Willis and Sunil Gavaskar.
“Had Gavaskar not played so skilfully, and had the catches stuck, India might have been 45 for five at lunch,” reported the Wisden Almanack. But the surface eased out, and India could declare at 481-4.
Why did India go in with three seamers today?
At the toss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma did not explain why they picked three seamers, but assured that he would have fielded first as well on a red-soil pitch that has bounce.
However, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto explained his reason: “There is moisture on the wicket and will like to use the conditions. It looks hard and will be good for the seamers in the first session.”
The last time India went in with three fast bowlers in a home Test match was in 2019/20 in the first day-night Test match in the nation, at Kolkata – also against Bangladesh. On that occasion, the fast bowlers were Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav.
Bangladesh’s decision to bowl was vindicated when Hasan had Rohit caught at slip for six, with the early session showing good carry fr the seamers. At the time of writing, India were 34-2, Shubman Gill out for a duck.
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