Bangladesh’s tour of India is just around the corner. This week, some of the key players of the squad have already arrived in India. They are set to play two test matches that are scheduled on September 19 and 27.

Based on recent reports, Bangladesh is pretty confident about the upcoming tour. However, the team’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto did say that the matches would be very challenging for them. 

While India has won most of their matches during tours in the past the odds of Bangladesh doing better this year aren’t too bad. Even all the channels providing expert tips on who will win today’s cricket match will most likely be in favor of India. Though, it’s undeniable that Bangladesh has plenty of talented players in their lineup.

“After a good series (vs Pakistan) there is an extra confidence in the team, in the people of the country. Every series is an opportunity. We will play to win both matches. The things that matter to win, the process matters… we will aim to do the work properly. Good results are possible if we do our job properly,” Shanto added.

True enough, India has always had a strong lineup of players, and this year, they will have the dynamic duo of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.

Kohli and Rahul’s Partnership

These two are easily some of the biggest names in cricket today and that’s with good reason. Aside from being known as a great team captain, Kohli without a doubt, is one of the greatest batsmen of not just of his time. 

Rahul, on the other hand, has always been a versatile player. He can easily adapt to Kohli’s batting style, and that’s been evident in how they’ve performed together in the past. 

Some of their notable performances include the World Cup 2024 opener against Australia. Having them allowed the team to produce 165 runs for the fourth wicket. Kohli scored 85 runs while Rahul got 97. 

The Asia 2023 Cup has also been where they were able to show a solid partnership. During a match with Pakistan, they shared an unbeaten 233-run stand-off 194 balls, which is the highest-ever partnership in the Asia Cup and India’s biggest stand against Pakistan in ODIs.

So, without a doubt, it will be challenging for Bangladesh to overcome these two players alone. Other big names will be playing the Test matches like the team’s captain, Rohit Sharma. They also have the likes of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.

How Bangladesh Can Outplay Kohli and Rahul

As mentioned, Bangladesh has some talented players on their team for the upcoming tour. Here is Bangladesh’ Test lineup:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Khaled Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Jaker Ali. Shakib Al Hasan. Liton Das (wk). Zakir Hasan (wk), Nayeem Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Shadman Islam, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Nahid Rana

It will probably take some serious work from Bangladesh to outplay India, particularly Kohli and Rahul, in the upcoming matches. 

They’ll have to score early wickets. Kohli tends to chase deliveries outside the off-stump early in his innings. Bangladesh’s pacers, like Taskin Ahmed, can exploit this by bowling a tight line and luring him into a drive. 

On the other hand, Rahul can sometimes struggle against spin early on. Shakib Al Hasan, with his subtle variations and ability to extract turns, can be their potent weapon. Miraz’s off-spin can also be used, and they can try to tie him down with dot balls and induce a false shot.

Bangladesh will also need to be sharp in the field and take every opportunity to create pressure against the two and build their momentum. Players like Das can help them with this.

Wrap-Up

Even if it’s likely that India will be performing better in the upcoming matches based on their historical statistics, we can’t deny that Bangladesh has been performing quite well recently. This is also what their captain has been banking on.

Shanto explained, “We will aim to play well for five days… If we play good cricket for five days, there is a chance which team will be a chance for either team to win in the last session.”

The first Test is scheduled to run from September 19-23 and will played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The next Test will then be on September 27 to October 1 at Green Park in Kanpur.