DHAKA: No one will argue that playing India in India is a huge challenge for any cricket team of the world, especially in test cricket. It is now the number one ICC ranked test team and is playing exceptionally well under changed leadership of Virat Kohli who himself one of the best batsman in world cricket at the moment.

Bangladesh ranked ninth in ICC test ranking is now on his historic first bilateral series in India for playing the lone test at Hyderabad. The test is set to start from 9 February. India was the first test playing nation that played the first ever test against Bangladesh in Bangabandhu Stadium, Dhaka in 2000 immediately after Bangladesh achieved test status. Since then India toured Bangladesh few times for playing bilateral series and for playing regional and international tournaments. But it took 17 years for Bangladesh next door neighbors for inviting Bangladesh.

India just completed a virtually one-sided series against England. Bangladesh, on the other hand, got whitewashed on tour in New Zealand. But that result did not actually reflect the intensity of contest in almost every match of every format. With a little bit of luck, Bangladesh could win a few. No team in recent past could set up such close contest against New Zealand in New Zealand.
 
Bangladesh met India in different formats of the game in regional tournaments and world events and has won few matches. Bangladesh has already beaten India, Pakistan, and England in ICC world cup. Bangladesh also beat India in Asia Cup. Not in the distant past, Bangladesh humiliated India 2-1 in an ODI series. It should have won the match of T20 world cup last year which they lost by 1-run from a comfortable winning position. But all these are matters of the past.

Bangladesh really needs to play consistently good cricket over at least 10-11 of the 15 sessions of the Hyderabad test to stretch India to its limit. It is easy writing than doing. India is in rampaging form in test destroying the pride of English cricket. But Bangladesh also drew the two-match test series 1-1 against England at home. Observers would say it was in a winning position even in the first test at Chittagong. 

We must preview the test match from the above perspective. Bangladesh will be playing in the known environment almost on known low and slow turning track. India edges Bangladesh marginally in the spinning department with two of the leading spinners -- Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja -- in a prolific form on their known tailor made tracks.

Shakib, Miraz and Taijul, however, won’t be far behind. If the wickets assist pace especially reverse swing Taskin, Rabbi and Subashis may ask questions to very powerful Indian batting. The leading Bangladeshi batsmen Tamim, Mahmudullah, Shakib and Mushfique always appear at their best against India. There are no reasons why they should not this time also. At least, the wicket won’t have the pace and bounce that hurt them in New Zealand. Sabbir, Liton are also useful young batsmen who can build on what seniors set. The team compares equally as weaker fielding side in the world cricket now. It is where Bangladesh must look to improve.

Bangladesh played in the only one practice match so far where Soumya, Mushfique, and Tamim had some useful batting practice. But the bowlers struggled to come to terms with Indian wicket. Three batsmen of India A team scored centuries. Anyways, one must not judge or forecast anything from a practice match alone. Test match will be very different with rival teams setting and executing strategy. Bangladesh has really got nothing to loose. No one should also judge from Bangladesh getting whitewash against New Zealand in New Zealand.

The real test of skills, temperament, and character of Bangladesh would batting well and bat at least five sessions in the first innings against a very potent top quality spin attack. Injury of Kayes is an early setback. Kayes and Tamim combination on low slow Hyderabad wicket could have been essential for a good solid opening partnership. Kayes just recovered from a muscle injury and should not have been risked for the lone test. Now Bangladesh may lose him for the Sri Lanka series also.​

The team management would be in a dilemma who to play as opening partner of Tamim. It will be a toss between aggressive Soumya and technically more solid Liton Das. True, Soumya is back in form but his game is still not perfectly suited for longer version of the game. Unfortunately, Mominul failed in both the innings of the practice match. Current writer would suggest playing Liton as partner of Tamim. That would also give the advantage of left and right combination at the top. Soumya can be slotted at number 7. Hope Tamim will play a long innings giving a solid foundation. Whatever might have happened in the practice match Mominul is expected to bat well at number 3. But the spine of Bangladesh batting is four, five and six – Mahmudullah, Mushfique and Shakib. They have to deny probing Ashwin and Jadeja now at form of their life. We are not sure whether it will be proper to risk Mushfique with the wicket keeping duty as he has just recovered from injury. Liton can very well stand in for him. Bangladesh needs Mushfique appearing with his top form with the bat. Shakib will make the difference with his prolific form with his all-round ability. If Sabbir has to play Bangladesh may have to appear with one less bowler. Against very strong Indian batting that will be not right. Miraz, Taijul, Taskin and Rabbi should make the team. If Sabbir has to play Bangladesh will either have choose one between Mahmudullah or Soumya. 

One can be rest assured that wicket would turn and would be made for inform Indian spinners. For that reason Bangladesh must play with three front line spinners – Sabbir, Miraz and Taijul and two pacers Taskin and Rabbi/ Subashis. 

My suggested team would be Tamim, Liton Das, Mominul, Mahmudullah, Mushfique, Shakib, Soumya, Sabbir/Taijul, Miraz, Taskin and Rabbi.

The five member attack of Bangladesh is capable of taking 20 Indian wickets if wicket has some assistance to either pace or spin. But Bangladesh has to field well and accept all catches. In New Zealand it was cold and windy. But Bangladesh is no stranger to weather of Hyderabad at this time of the year.

The real challenge would be batting in the second innings on deteriorating wicket against two of best spinners in present test cricket. Bangladesh must try to bat at least 5 and half session if batting first. England in recent times batted well in the first Innings of most tests. But Indian strong batting still outscored them. Indian spinners then rolled them over in the second innings. Bangladesh has better batsman against spin and even Bangladesh spinners are better than English spinners. Bangladesh, however, will miss the services of a quality spinning coach.

It will be a very important match for Bangladesh for judging their rising reputation. Millions of fans of both India and Bangladesh from all over the world will be glued to ball by ball worldwide electronic media coverage. 

Mushfique rightly said that it is not a special game for Bangladesh except playing its first test against India in India. It will not be Bangladesh it will be India which will be under pressure. This Bangladesh team is very different. On their day they can beat any team anywhere.

Whatever happens can guarantee that it will not be one-way-traffic. India will have play out of its skin to win against fighting tigers.

BDST: 2136 HRS, FEB 08, 2017
SR