India vs Bangladesh 2017: 5 players to watch out for

Bangladesh are set to tour India for a Test for the first time since they emerged as a Test nation. Though just a one-off match, the Test holds significance for a side that has emerged from 2016 as more than just minnows.

In the wake of India's brilliant home run against various visiting teams, Bangladesh are sure to have a tough time. However, what will work in the favour of the Tigers is their familiarity with the surfaces than some of the recent visitors like England and New Zealand.

India will hope to continue their superb winning streak at home in Tests. They have, however, not taken the neighbours lightly as is evident in the strong 16 man squad selected for the Test.

Here is a glance at 5 players who could be in the limelight in this series.

#5 Ravindra Jadeja

Along with Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja has been a huge threat for visiting batsmen on sub-continental wickets. Jadeja's biggest weapon is his high accuracy and ability to vary pace deceptively.

He gets wickets by cutting out the run flow and thus exerting pressure on the batsman. Even though Bangladesh are pretty used to sub-continental surfaces, Jadeja might be a different proposition for them.

Jadeja took 26 wickets in the series against England with Alastair Cook finding no way to get rid of Jadeja. The left arm spinner bagged a career best figure of 7/48 in the series and is in the form of his life ever since his comeback.

#4 Shakib-al-Hasan

Shakib is as handy with the ball as he is with the bat

The Bangladesh all-rounder is a talented cricketer and much similar to Jadeja in his bowling style. But what sets him apart is his terrific batting in the middle order for Bangladesh.

A crucial part of the middle-order, Shakib-al-Hasan is in great nick with the willow having smashed a career best and Bangladesh record of 217 against New Zealand last month in their backyard. He forged a threatening 390 run stand with Rahim although his team lost.

That said, Bangladesh had a pretty good 2016 and will be hoping to continue that run of form this year. Shakib will be a vital performer in that has to happen given that the tracks should suit his batting and bowling style.

#3 Tamim Iqbal

Tamim Iqbal is Bangladesh’s mainstay at the top of the innings

The aggressive Bangladeshi opener is a fine batsman and could be a key for the visitors in this series given his style of batting. The ever looming threat of Ashwin and Jadeja means visitors try not to lose early wickets to the seamers while scoring maximum runs.

This is where someone like Tamim Iqbal could be a threat for the Indians. He can get Bangladesh off to a flier which could help them play Ashwin and Jadeja with a better platform.

Tamim is Bangladesh's second highest run scorer in Tests since 2016 after Shakib with 325 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 40.62 and a hundred to show for his efforts. He would definitely like to put the Indian attack to the sword in the Test series.

#2 Karun Nair

Can Nair follow up on his success against England?

The right-handed middle-order batsman had a brilliant series against England at home. He smashed a triple hundred, becoming only the second Indian to reach the landmark in Tests.

Nair has established himself in the middle order in the absence of Rohit Sharma in Tests and could be a huge threat for Bangladesh if they do manage to break the Indian top order.

Given that Nair is slated to bat at no. 6, he should be playing a role similar to what VVS Laxman did for India in Tests. The 25-year-old’s contributions, lower down the order could prove to be the real decider if the Indian batting order stutters.

#1 Ravichandran Ashwin

The ICC Cricketer of the Year is set to play a huge role once more

The wily Indian off-spinner is in a dream run in his Test career. Although most of them have come on home surfaces, Ashwin has grown beyond his early jittery nerves in Tests and has a bag of tricks in his bowling armoury.

Ashwin has shown his other dimension to the game as well. With the willow, he is a more than a formidable batsman in the lower order and his recent run suggests that he has the potential to be known of the best all-rounders India has ever produced. Although his batting may not be the focus given that India boast of a spectacular top order, it is a useful trait to have any time.

Ashwin will, however, be crucial if India are to take care of the Bangladesh middle order comprising of Shakib-al-Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman and Soumya Sarkar. His varieties might just be too much to handle for the Tigers and if so, expect another bag full of wickets for the Chennai man.