India vs Bangladesh 2022: Best Playing 11 for Test Series

Ravindra Jadeja expected to miss as we look at the best predicted playing 11 for the 2022 Team India vs Bangladesh Test series.  

After a gap of almost 5 months, India would be back to playing the longest format of the game, Test Cricket. Team India’s last leg of the World Test Championship if you call it shall comprise of 2-match away Test series vs Bangladesh and 4-match home Test series vs Australia.

In terms of Team India’s squad, Rohit Sharma is back to leading the Test team after he missed the previous Birmingham Test vs England. But after losing Ravindra Jadeja for the ODI series vs Bangladesh, India are in danger of losing Ravindra Jadeja for the Test series as well.

Ravindra Jadeja was recently ruled out of the ODI series vs Bangladesh, and given the extent of the injury he sustained in Asia Cup 2022, he may not be able to recover in time for the Test series as well. While BCCI has not made the news official as yet, but Suryyakumar Yadav is expected to take his place in the Test side. 

Nevertheless, Team India are currently at 4th position in the World Test Championship 2021-23 points table with a PCT% of 52.1. The Bangladesh Test series is extremely crucial for Team India as they would have to win both of them to give them a good chance for the WTC final.

If we look at the history between these two teams, India have been a dominant team vs Bangladesh in Bangladesh in Test matches. They have played a total of 8 Tests against each other with India winning 6 and 2 Tests ending in a draw. Meanwhile, per the leading website, Betway, India are the favorites to win with their odds at 1.25. 

India vs Bangladesh 2022: Official Test Series Squad for Team India

Batters: Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill & Virat Kohli 

Wks: KS Bharat & Rishabh Pant

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja (doubtful)

Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur & Umesh Yadav

Captain: Rohit Sharma // Vice-captain: KL Rahul

The 2-match Test series begins on December 14. While the first Test shall feature from December 14-18, the second Test shall feature from December 22-26. So, with less than a month left for the Test series, let’s look at the best predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 Test series vs Bangladesh. 

Team India’s Playing 11

Openers: Rohit Sharma & KL Rahul 

After missing the fifth Test match vs England earlier in July, Team India would be back to seeing their best and first-choice openers, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Both may be slightly out of form in the T20 format, but when it comes to Test matches, all they need is spending some good 5-10 overs in the middle. 

Middle-order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli & Shreyas Iyer

Coming to the middle-order, Team India are most-likely to play Cheteshwar Pujara at 3 unless Team India think of playing Shubman Gill at this position. Apart from Pujara, India would see the former captain, Virat Kohli at 4 and Shreyas Iyer at 5. With India mostly facing spin bowling, these three are the best India have at the moment. 

Middle-order: Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant may be struggling for form in the shortest format of the game. But Test matches are his strength, and he has already established himself as the finest Indian wicket-keeper batter to have graced the game. Needless to say, Rishabh Pant would be extremely crucial for the Bangladesh Test series, and India would need their star wicket-keeper to continue his Test form. 

Spinners: Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel & Kuldeep Yadav

If Ravindra Jadeja is not ruled out, he will form an excellent spin all-rounder trio alongside Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel. The trio would have undoubtedly been Team India’s best strength. But with Jadeja expected to miss, India would mostly play Kuldeep Yadav at number 9.

Kuldeep Yadav is the fourth spinner of the squad, and looks more probable to replace Jadeja. If India doesn’t decide to take an extra bowler, India could think of playing Shardul Thakur or Jadeja’s replacement at the number 6 position. However, this move looks unlikely. 

Pacers: Mohammed Shami & Mohammed Siraj

Coming to the pace attack, India would only go with two options unless the conditions are overcast. With Jasprit Bumrah not available for the Test series, Mohammed Shami shall lead the pace attack. The only question that India would have to ponder upon is Mohammed Siraj vs Umesh Yadav. It would be an interesting call, but Siraj could get an upper hand. 

India vs Bangladesh 2022 – Test Series Best Predicted Playing 11 for India: 

Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami & Mohammed Siraj. 

So, that’s about the best playing 11 for the 2022 India vs Bangladesh Test series without Ravindra Jadeja. Overall, Team India would not want to risk Ravindra Jadeja for the series against Bangladesh. Resting him would be ideal as they would want him to be fit for the most-important Australia Test series. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 Test series vs Bangladesh? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.