Rohit Sharma Captain, Virat Back After 8 Months: India's Probable 15-Member Test Team For Bangladesh Series

Virat Kohli is set to make his Test comeback. Photo: BCCI

KEY HIGHLIGHTS India will host Bangladesh in two Test matches

Rohit Sharma will lead Team India

Virat Kohli is set to make his comeback

Team India will make its return to Test cricket after six months and host Bangladesh in a two-match series. The Rohit Sharma-led side hasn't played a red-ball game since the home series against England, which ended in March. The majority of Test players will participate in the first round Duleep Trophy before the series. But the performances in the first round aren't expected to have a major say in the team selection for at least the Bangladesh series.

Rohit and Virat Kohli were among the senior players who weren't named in the Duleep Trophy squads. Virat, who last played a Test match in January 2024, is set to make his return. He was part of the squad for the first two Tests against England but he pulled out of the complete series due to personal reasons.

The first Test of the India-Bangladesh series will be played in Chennai from September 19 to 23. The action will move to Kanpur for the second Test, from September 27 to October 1. As the fans wait for the BCCI's announcement, here we have a look at India's probable 15-member squad for the Test series -

Openers

Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will continue to open the innings. Yashasvi has fixed his spot as an opener in Test cricket and there has been no looking back for him since his debut. He will aim to continue his purple patch in Tests.

Middle-order

Shubman Gill will continue to bat at number 3. He will be followed by Virat Kohli. Sarfaraz Khan is set to retain his spot while Devdutt Padikkal might keep his place. Shubman, who recently became India's vice-captain in white-ball cricket, is likely to be given the same responsibility in Tests.

All-rounders

No surprises here. R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will continue to be three spin-bowling all-rounders in the squad. Ashwin and Jadeja are confirmed selections in the playing XI.

Wicketkeepers

Rishabh Pant is set to make his comeback in the Test team. India have always had two wicketkeepers even for home Tests for past 5 years and Dhruv Jurel should keep his spot. Rishabh though is likely to pip him for a spot in the playing XI.

Bowlers

Kuldeep Yadav is set to keep his spot. Mohammed Siraj will lead India's pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah 's absence. Bumrah is likely to be rested for this series. Mukesh Kumar looks all but set to retain his place.

Aakash Deep and Arshdeep Singh are likely to compete for one spot. Arshdeep is expected to soon make it to the Test team. Mohammed Shami, who has been out of action since the 2023 ODI World Cup, is likely to get fit for the New Zealand series.

India's probable squad for Test series against Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Aakash Deep/Arshdeep Singh

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