XtraTime Web Desk: India will start as firm favourites in the two match test series against Bangladesh starting from Thursday at the Holkar stadium in Indore. India, who is comfortably placed with 240 points in ICC World Test Championship, will look to consolidate their position on top. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be a depleted side with the absence of seasoned campaigners Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal.
Having crushed South Africa in their last series, Kohli and his boys will definitely be too hot to handle for a side whose best batsman – skipper Mominul Haque – has less than 10 Test hundreds (eight).
Although Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad are committed cricketers but in the longest format, they aren’t exactly formidable names.
Compare that to India’s premier willow wielders – Kohli (26 hundreds), Ajinkya Rahane (11), Cheteshwar Pujara (18). They have 50 plus ton collectively and it will be one hell of a task for the Mustafizur Rahamans, Taijul Islams and Mehidy Hasan Mirajs to stop this line-up.
And before these three even come into play, Bangladesh will have to deal with an in-form opening pairs Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma. Add to it, India’s bowling unit with 800-plus scalps, this is one contest where the ‘David’ looks incapable of slaying the proverbial ‘Goliath’.
The track at the Holkar Stadium will encourage the pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma. A lot of grass is left on the 22 yards of Holkar stadium, which will definitely help the quicks to extract a lot of bounce and pace. Apart from the three quicks, Indian team management is looking at the prospect of playing both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Talented Hanuma Vihari too had a long run at the nets with the bat and ball, indicating the Andhra batsman has a fair chance of making a comeback in the playing XI. In that case anyone bowler will have to sit out.