Predicted Indian XI for the one-off Test against Bangladesh

Over the last few years, it’s been a norm for the Indian Cricketers to be literally playing every single month in a year. The pattern continues as the men in blue will be out in their white stripes to play a solitary Test match against Bangladesh on the 10th of June which is just a little over two weeks after the IPL final. There are several reports that some top players could be rested for this short series, and with MS Dhoni retiring from Tests, here is how we predict the team to line up for the solitary Test:

Openers:

Murali Vijay

Vijay has sealed his spot with some solid performances

When the selectors sit down to pick the team for the Test, Murali Vijay’s name will undoubtedly be one of the first names that they will be writing down after his solid show in Australia recently. His penchant for scoring big runs by spending plenty of time out in the middle has worked out well for him and on what will presumably be a flat wicket, Vijay will be hoping to make another daddy hundred.

Lokesh Rahul

KL Rahul scored a majestic maiden hundred in the final Test against Australia at Sydney, he needs to show one and all that it wasn’t a one-off knock. He had a terrific domestic season with Karnataka and with a tough Test series in Sri Lanka coming up, Rahul needs a good outing here in order to keep Dhawan away.

Middle order:

Cheteshwar Pujara

After getting dropped for the final Test in Sydney, expect Pujara to come back into the XI

If there is one man who cannot literally wait to step inside the ground to bat, then it has to be Cheteshwar Pujara. His recent hundred for County side Yorkshire would be a huge confidence booster for him, but after getting dropped for the Sydney Test due to some repeated failures, he needs a big one. Even though Rohit temporarily filled in at number 3, expect Pujara to take back his spot.

Virat Kohli

A new beginning

Even though he stepped in for Dhoni in the two Test matches in Australia, this is officially his first assignment as a full-time Test skipper. There are reports that he might skip the series, but ideally he should be playing the Test and can instead skip the ODI series. Having a makeshift Test Captain wouldn’t be ideal for the side at a time when it is looking to have a new beginning.

Ajinkya Rahane

Expect him to keep scoring

India’s find of the season in Test Cricket has to be Ajinkya Rahane. He has seamlessly settled in the middle order, and after battling out to score some tough runs, one can expect him to milk the Bangladesh bowlers in much friendlier batting conditions this time around.

Rohit Sharma

Always under the scanner

With Pujara expected to go back to his original position, one can expect Rohit to be pushed back to the number 6 spot. Rohit has failed to seal his place in the Test side, but had a decent Test at Sydney. But he will be under pressure again to score runs since a failure might prompt the think-tank to contemplate playing an all-rounder who can bowl for the Tests in Sri Lanka.

Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper)

Here is the big change! Even though by now Saha has played in a handful of Tests, this will be the first time that he will be entering the field knowing that there would be no MS Dhoni waiting to take his spot back after just one Test. He will be given a long rope to settle in, so he would need to keep the selectors faith in him with some useful contributions with the bat apart from putting up a good show behind the stumps.

Spinners

Ravichandran Ashwin

Back to business?

Back in the sub-continent, spinner friendly conditions and plenty of left-handed batsmen to contain with, one can expect Ravichandran Ashwin to be back amongst the wickets after an ordinary showing during India’s recent overseas tours where he was also made to wait on the sidelines at times.

Ravindra Jadeja

Lack of options might prompt the selectors to pick Ravindra Jadeja as Ashwin’s spin partner. Jadeja missed the Test series in Australia because of a shoulder injury and has never been the same since his comeback. But his past success in the subcontinent might tip the scales in his favour since there aren’t many genuine options to choose from. Will Karn Sharma be given another chance? Or will Akshar Patel be handed a Test cap? We will have to wait and watch!

Seamers:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvi is expected to play this Test after missing the first 3 Tests against Australia

If there is one bowler who doesn’t need any rest, then it has to be Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He missed the first three Test matches against Australia and also was warming the benches during the World Cup since India had preferred Umesh, Shami and Mohit ahead of him. So the youngster has missed enough matches to sit out of this one.

Ishant Sharma

The selectors won’t be taking a gamble with Mohammad Shami after the speedster missed the entire IPL with an injury. That presents Ishant Sharma with another opportunity to lead the bowling attack. He has enough experience of bowling in similar surfaces and he needs to step up again in order to silence his critics.