BIPIN DANI
DHAKA: Team India's stand-in captain KL Rahul was set to address the pre-match media briefing after his batting practice on Wednesday but during the fag end of his net session, a throw-down from batting coach Vikram Rathore injured his hand. If he is not available for the 2nd Test commencing tomorrow, the team will be led by vice captain Cheteshwar Pujara (Pujara has been named vice captain by the BCCI and not by the outgoing selection committee, a member of the support staff confirmed) and in that scenario, the 27-year-old Abhimanyu Easwaran could earn a Test cap.
After seeing the wicket on the eve of the Test, Team India's coach Rahul Dravid rushed to chief curator's (Gamini Silva) room. What discussions the coach had with this Sri Lanka-born curator is not known but the experts here believe that the wicket is likely to help the spinners. The first Test pitch was enjoyed by batters but here in Mirpur, the wickets may help the spinners.
The wicket at the Shere Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) in Mirpur will assist spinners. The team winning the toss is likely to bat first, and thus avoid batting in the fourth innings. The weather is dry.
The chief selector of Bangladesh cricket team, Minhajul Abedin "Nannu" has admitted that the Indian team has a very strong bench strength. "Indian team didn't have their regular captain and a key player Rohit Sharma, still they won the first Test in Chattogram. It is because the team has the strongest bench strength. I see India as a formidable side and not easy to beat".
According to him, Virat Kohli will be a "big threat". Kohli is one of the greatest players the world has seen in recent times and though he could not capitalize big scores in the first Test, we can not underestimate his game".
Echoing his views in the press conference, Team India's batting coach Vikram Rathore said, "Kohli is working very hard. Even when he was running in a lean patch, he was working hard. All players are working very hard and we are determined to play a good Test match and hopefully, it will produce result".
Bangladesh may face an uphill task against Ashwin, Kuldeep and Axar Patel.
However, the more encouraging news for Bangladesh came from their fast bowling coach Alan Donald. "Shakib has recovered well and as far as I know he is likely to play tomorrow", he said at the media conference.
Doubts were raised about Shakib's participation in the match. Bangladeshi captain was suffering from shoulder and rib cage injuries and due to which he could bowl only 12 overs in the first innings in the first Test. However, both the chief selector and the fast bowling coach confirmed that the captain would and will not play merely as a batter.
India (likely Playing XIs):
Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (capt), Cheteshwar Pujara (vice captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
Bangladesh (likely Playing XIs):
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Yasir Ali, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed
