Everything You Need to Know About Upcoming Test Series Between India vs Bangladesh

Following a much-deserved long vacation, the reigning world T20 champions will be back in action very soon. Rohit Sharma’s men are gearing up for their first Test match against Bangladesh, and excitement is already brewing.

Team India is on the precipice of a new era, as Gautam Gambhir takes charge of the national team. And he has wasted no time in pushing the players through their paces. Earlier today, the BCCI shared photos of Indian players putting in the hard yards at training ahead of the highly anticipated 1st Test at Chepauk. With just under a week to go before the clash between India and Bangladesh, excitement is building to a fever pitch. 

We know the hype can be overwhelming, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. From key matchups to squad updates, here's your ultimate guide to the India vs. Bangladesh series. Get ready, because this is going to be one cricketing showdown you won’t want to miss. 

Fixtures and Schedule of IDFC FIRST Bank Test Series vs Bangladesh 

The first test match between India and Bangladesh will be played at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium from 19th September (Thursday) to 23rd September (Monday). After the conclusion of the first test, both teams will travel North for the 2nd Test match, which will be held in Kanpur. The 2nd Test match will start from 27th September (Friday) and continue till 1st October (Tuesday).  

Following the two-match test series, both India and Bangladesh will participate in a three-game ODI Series. The first ODI will be played at New Madhavrao Scindia Stadium in Gwalior on 6th October. Just three days later, the second ODI will take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The final leg of the ODI series will take place on 12th October. Both the teams travel to Hyderabad for the last ODI match. 

India and Bangladesh’s Squads for the Series 

Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Jaker Ali Anik. 

India Test Squad: 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, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal. 

Key Players to Watch 

1) Rishabh Pant (India): One of the most destructive batsmen in the world, Rishabh Pant makes his long-awaited return to India’s test roster. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper returns to test cricket after almost two years. Pant was involved in a car accident in 2022, which left him hospitalized. After one-and-a-half years of grueling recovery, Pant is finally fit enough to play test cricket. However, he will face stern competition from 23-year-old Dhruv Jurel. 

2) Ravichandran Ashwin (India): Ravichandran Ashwin has been the difference maker for India for several years now, racking up 516 wickets in 100 Tests at an average of 23.75, with 36 five-wicket hauls to his name. And when it comes to bowling on home soil, Ashwin's numbers get even better—he's got 363 wickets at just 21.15, with 28 of those five-fors coming in India, according to ESPNcricinfo. With the upcoming series against Bangladesh on turning pitches, you can bet Ashwin is itching to make his mark once again. He knows these conditions like the back of his hand, and there's every chance he could be the difference-maker. 

3) Litton Das (Bangladesh): Litton Das had a standout Test series against Pakistan, with scores of 56 and a gritty 138 in two innings. In the second Test in Rawalpindi, Bangladesh were in deep trouble at 26/5, which quickly became 26/6. But Litton stepped up and defied the odds, scoring a brilliant century that helped Bangladesh secure the win. Over his career, Litton has racked up 2,655 Test runs at an average of 36.87, including 4 centuries and 17 fifties. 

4) Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh): Mehidy Hasan has really risen to the occasion as one of the top all-rounders in the game. It was Mehidy who joined Litton when Bangladesh was struggling at 26/6 in the second Test against Pakistan, and together, they turned the game on its head with a fantastic partnership. Mehidy's all-round performance was a highlight of the series—he picked up 10 wickets and chipped in with two crucial fifties, scoring 77 and 78. He’s definitely someone to watch out for with his all-around skills against Team India. 

India vs Bangladesh Head-To-Head in Test Matches 

India and Bangladesh have faced each other on 13 separate occasions in red-ball cricket. However, in those 13 meetings, Bangladesh have never managed to defeat India. In fact, the “Men in Blue’ have won 11 test matches and drawn just twice. The most recent test match between India and Bangladesh took place in 2022 in Bangladesh. India won both the test matches to clinch the series. 

In the 1st Test match, which took place on 14th December 2022, India defeated the Bangla Tigers by 188 runs. Admittedly, the 2nd test match was much closer, as India secured a victory by just three wickets. Since then, these two sides haven’t crossed paths in red-ball cricket, but with their next showdown approaching, fans will be eager to see if Bangladesh can finally turn the tide. 

Where Can You Watch India vs Bangladesh Series 

Fans in India can catch the thrilling action of India vs Bangladesh Test Series on TV via the Sports 18 channel. For fans who prefer to watch online, the series will be streamed on Jio Cinema app or website. For fans in Bangladesh, the test series will be streamed on the Rabbitholebd YouTube channel. Meanwhile, the TV telecast will be available on GTV. Moreover, fans can also buy tickets for both the test matches from the Paytm insider app or website.