Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant made his comeback as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the first Test match against Bangladesh starting from September 19. He will be making his return to Test cricket for India after nearly 20 months following injuries sustained in a car accident. Rohit Sharma will be the captain while Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been included in the squad. Akash Deep has been named in the squad while young pacer Yash Dayal has earned his maiden call-up.
After playing in the second and final Test against Bangladesh at Mirpur from December 22-25, 2022, Pant met with a road accident a few days later on December 30 and returned to top-flight cricket only in the IPL this year.
The 26-year-old pacey batsman made his return to the national team in the title-winning T20 World Cup campaign.
NEWS – Team India squad for the first Test of the IDFC FIRST Bank Test Series against Bangladesh has been announced.
Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep… photo.twitter.com/pQn7Ll7k3X
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2024
However, Mohammed Shami failed to make it to the Test squad despite chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar having earlier expressed that the right-arm seam spinner was aiming to make a comeback in the first Test against Bangladesh.
India's long Test season begins with the first of two Tests against Bangladesh in Chennai, starting from September 19.
The second Test of the series will be played at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1.
India and Bangladesh have played 13 Tests so far, in which the former has won 11 times while two ended in a draw.
Bangladesh will come into this series on the back of a historic 2-0 win over Pakistan on the opponents' home turf, while it will be India's first Test assignment since beating England 4-1 at home in January-March earlier this year.
India squad for first Test of Bangladesh Test series: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep , Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.
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