IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul to get the nod ahead of Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan
IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul to get the nod ahead of Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has all but confirmed the inclusion of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul for the opening Test match against Bangladesh starting on Thursday (Sep 19). The contest which will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will see the return of Pant in the red-ball format for the first time since December 2022 having got injured in a near-fatal car accident. The duo's inclusion means both Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan will have to sit out despite shining in India’s last Test series against England in March.
Gambhir all but confirms Pant, Rahul's inclusion
"We don't drop anyone. We just pick the players who fit the XI. Jurel is a phenomenal player, but when Pant is coming in, sometimes people have to wait. Same with Sarfaraz. There will be opportunities, but you have to wait," Gambhir said in the pre-match press conference.
It was already rumoured that Rahul was going to get the nod ahead of Sarfaraz in the Playing XI while Pant and Jurel were involved in a tug-of-war for the keeper’s role. However, Pant is now set to start his first Test match for India in 21 months having been out of action in the entire 2023. Interestingly, his last Test before the near-fatal accident in December 2022 was also against Bangladesh.
Pant returned to action during the India Premier League (IPL 2024) and was also part of the Indian team during their T20 World Cup triumph. He last played for India in a Test match on home turf in March 2022.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT Releases (April 10, 2026): Tu Yaa Main, O'Romeo, Thrash- 5 movies and TV shows coming on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar and more
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Always ready': How long can the USS Abraham Lincoln stay at sea?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Salt Spray': How the USS Abraham Lincoln protects its sensitive radars from decay
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 5 Indian batters with fastest fifty in IPL
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Japan wants to turn the Moon into Earth’s biggest power station: Here's how
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Artemis II photos: Orion and astronauts return seen from space station
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Artemis II: Astronauts stuck using 'special bags' as $23 million toilet gets clogged
)
‘We see your activity’: Russian submarines targeted UK undersea cables, pipelines in month-long operation, claims defence secretary
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘24-month training programme’: How elite intelligence units at the CIA train for operations like pilot rescue in Iran
)
All about MQ-4C Triton, the US surveillance drone that has gone missing
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
USS Abraham Lincoln: How carrier crews keep fighter jets mission-ready for months at sea
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the USS Abraham Lincoln requires a massive crew of nearly 5,000 people
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Hidden Decay': How the USS Abraham Lincoln fights rust deep inside its lower decks
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'The Silent Enemy': Why rust is the most expensive threat to the USS Abraham Lincoln
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Top countries where Homeopathy is banned and why: Complete details inside
India are also expected to field three spinners while Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will be the pace options.
India vs Bangladesh, Team India's Probabe Playing 11 for 1st Test:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
