IND vs BAN: Bangladesh opts to bowl first in Chennai, Pant-Rahul returns to Test lineup

India and Bangladesh are all set to take on each other in the first Test of the two-game series. Both sides will lock horns at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 19. As both sides take on each other, the clash will begin with Bangladesh coming in to bowl first after the side wins the toss.

Furthermore, there were some returning faces to the Indian Test set-up. The likes of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul make their return to the Test playing XI as both will feature against Bangladesh in the first Test.

Pant will be playing his first Test match for India since his life-threatening accident in December 2022. One of the best in the format for India, Pant’s return was something that the fans and team were looking forward to.

It is worth noting that Bangladesh are yet to win a Test game in India; however, their recent series win against Pakistan will have their confidence boosted, and the visitors will aim to put in their best performances against team India in Chennai and in Kanpur for the second Test as well.

Announcing the lineups for the first Test, the hosts went with a combination of three pacers – Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will be filling in the role of the spinners. Bangladesh have gone in with a similar team composition as well.

As for the pitch, the surface at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai for the first Test is said to have moisture and some grass on the pitch. The red-soil pitch is expected to provide some bounce and turn, and with three pacers each on either side, they will hope to make the most of the pitch in the early stages of the game.