Virat Kohli anjd Sarfaraz Khan batting in Test cricket - they are likely to be in India's XI for the first Bangladesh Test

The first Test of the India-Bangladesh series will begin on September 19 - here’s the playing XI the hosts are likely to go in with.

Rohit Sharma (captain)

The XI is largely settled, and Rohit will be at the helm. The India skipper has been exceptional at home since the beginning of 2022. He has made 732 runs in 18 innings at an average of 40.66 with three hundreds, the most any India batter has made in this period.

Yashasvi Jaiswal

What a start it has been for Jaiswal in the format, with his attacking style of play tempting the opposition batters to take credit for his skills. In nine Tests, he has made three hundreds and four fifties, averaging 68.53. In the last home series against England, Jaiswal was unstoppable, with five fifty-plus knocks, including a fine 209.

Shubman Gill

Despite his apparent Test struggles, Gill will keep his place for the first match against Bangladesh. Since the start of 2022, he has averaged 55.09 at home, the second-best among all India batters with a minimum of 200 runs. Against England, with his place in the side under scrutiny, Gill made 104 at Visakhapatnam and ended the series with 91, 38, 52* and 110.

Virat Kohli

After skipping the England series, Kohli will return to play his first Test at home in 18 months.

Sarfaraz Khan

The youngster will fight for his spot with the experienced KL Rahul and exuberant Dhruv Jurel. While Rahul’s fortunes keep fluctuating in the format, Jurel is relatively new in first-class cricket. India are likely to back Sarfaraz to play in the middle order against Australia and will be keen to give him as many games as possible. His blistering cameo in the Duleep Trophy might tilt the balance towards him.

Rishabh Pant

Another comeback man: Rishabh Pant’s legacy is set to grow in Test cricket after the wicketkeeper averted the worst following a horrific car accident. Having already established himself as one of the greats in the format, he will aspire to continue from where he left.

Ravindra Jadeja

Another player who has entered the behemoths club, with his all-round expertise making him indispensable. While his famed spinning partner takes away most of the limelight, Jadeja, with 294 Test wickets and 3,036 runs is on the cusp of going where just 10 players have gone before.

Ravichandran Ashwin

516 wickets at an average of 23.75 speaks for itself. Ashwin was arguably not at his best in the last home series, against England, but still ended with 26 scalps in 10 innings. Phenomenal.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep’s resurgence across all formats has seen him edge ahead of Axar Patel in the XI. Even when conditions were against him in Dharamsala against England, the left-arm spinner left the batters flummoxed over which way the ball would turn. It was his comeback Test series and Kuldeep left his mark, picking up 19 wickets at an average of 20.15.

Mohammed Siraj

India are unlikely to go ahead with just one seamer in their XI despite the venue for the first Test, Chennai, assisting the spinners. The primary reason will be the threat of overbowling Jasprit Bumrah, who deserves to be wrapped in cotton wool and preserved, especially with the Australia tour coming up.

Secondly, with Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep, India would think they have a quality spin attack that will be able to exploit the wicket. A fourth spinner will only lead to the underutilisation of a resource.

Jasprit Bumrah

If he is fit and available, Bumrah will always play.

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