Bangladesh’s recent success against Pakistan in Rawalpindi has brought excitement to the cricket world, especially as they prepare for their upcoming Test series against the world’s No. 2 team, India. This series marks a significant moment in Bangladesh’s cricket history as they head to India for only their fourth away Test and the first in five years.

Bangladesh’s journey in Test cricket

Bangladesh pulled off a remarkable clean sweep against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, sparking interest in how they’ll fare against cricket giants India. This victory has created buzz and a sense of optimism for Bangladesh’s potential to compete on bigger stages. Bangladesh has struggled in away Tests, particularly against the men in blue. In their prior three away Tests, Bangladesh faced massive defeats, highlighting the difficulty they’ve had competing against stronger sides in overseas conditions. This backdrop makes the upcoming Test series a critical opportunity for Bangladesh to show their growth. Bangladesh will be hoping for a repeat performance in Chennai as they lead the fast-bowling attack. With reverse swing likely to be in play on the drying pitch, their skillset will be crucial.

India’s record in Test cricket

India has long been a powerhouse in cricket, especially at home. With a formidable record on home soil, India presents a huge challenge for any visiting team, and Bangladesh is no exception. For this Test, India has chosen a red soil pitch in Chennai, a move that could be favourable for fast bowlers in the early days. Traditionally, the black soil pitches Bangladesh is used to don’t offer much pace or bounce. This shift to a red soil pitch could test Bangladesh’s batters in new ways.

The big news from the Indian team is that Rishabh Pant is making his Test match return after 629 days. Ravichandran Ashwin will be one of the key players for India in this series. Playing in his home city of Chennai, Ashwin has a stellar record at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. In 13 head-to-head Tests so far, India have never lost to Bangladesh, with 11 wins and two draws. In 45 Tests at home in the last 10 years, India has lost only four Tests, with 34 wins and seven draws. The last Test encounter between the two teams was in 2022 when India secured a 1-0 series win in Bangladesh.

What are the odds for India vs Bangladesh?

India is favoured to win the Test match due to their impressive record on home soil. Bangladesh has never won a Test match against India. They made their Test debut against India in November 2000 but have yet to claim a victory in the red-ball format.

Despite this, Bangladesh will be aiming to break their drought. They have potent spinners in left-armers Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam, and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who can challenge any opposition on their day. However, cricket is a game full of surprises, and Bangladesh has proven before that they can defy expectations.

Recent Test Performances

• India: Win, Win, Win, Win, Loss.
• Bangladesh: Win, Win, Loss, Loss.

Playing XI:

• India: Rohit Sharma (c) (pictured above on right side), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj
• Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c) (pictured above on left side), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

Unlock winning moments: Discover the best odds on SiGMA Play.