🏏BD vs India - 2nd Test: Day 4: SBN Stadium, Dhaka - 22/12/22🏏

🏏Bangladesh vs India - 2nd Test: Sher- E - Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka on 22/12/2022 at 9:30AM IST🏏

Spinners set to dominate as India hunt for 2-0

Where batters enjoyed a largely docile surface in Chattogram, they may be in for a tougher time in Dhaka

After an insipid performance in the first Test, the onus will be on Shakib Al Hasan and Co. to try and find ways to stop the powerful Indian team. In what comes as a boost for the hosts, their skipper has been deemed fit to bowl, which also greatly helps with their overall balance.

Notwithstanding that boost, Bangladesh would want to step up on all fronts. While the bowling was hampered with injuries to key players including pacer Ebadot Hossain in the second innings, the batting would have no such excuses to fall back upon.

It is here that they are likely to make a couple of changes as well in a bid to compete against India's relentless attack. In the first Test, all of India's five frontline bowlers had an impact of varying degrees against Bangladesh's top order, and proving to be the biggest difference between the two sides.

While Bangladesh's bowling may fall short with respect to depth in bowling, they did manage to put India's batting under pressure on the first morning of the opening Test, and would want to chip away at those chinks in India's armour.

For the visitors, there would be little of concern despite the blow suffered by skipper KL Rahul during practice. "Doesn't look serious. He seems to be fine. Hopefully, he will be okay. Doctors are looking at it," was how Vikram Rathour assessed the situation.

It will be another opportunity for India to enhance their position in the World Test Championship table, where they're currently placed second inching ahead of South Africa.

The Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch is typically good for batting in the first three days and then starts crumbling a bit. Batters will enjoy the hardness in the first two days but spinners should get assistance too.

The role of spinners will be particularly crucial during the final two days when there is a lot of turn on offer. The weather in Dhaka will be sunny and pleasant for all five days of the Test. According to weather.com, the temperature will range between 16 degrees to 29 degrees Celcius on match days 22 to 26th December, while humidity will be around 60-65% during the day. There is less than a 10% chance of rainfall.

Dhaka’s Shere Bangla National Stadium is a high-scoring venue. The average first innings score here is 342. However, the average 4th innings score here is just 180, indicating how tough it might be for the team that bats last on this wicket. The team that bats first should look to post a total of around 450 runs.

Of the 23 Tests played at this venue, 12 have been won by the team batting first. The team winning the toss is likely to bat first here. Azhar Ali had scored 226 while Mehidy Hasan Miraz had taken 12/117 in a match and Taijul Islam had taken 8/39 in an innings.

Teams

India

They'll have little to worry about despite KL Rahul copping a blow in the nets ahead of the match. They are likely to go ahead with an unchanged eleven.

Probable XI: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (C), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj

Bangladesh

Litton Das was seen doing keeping in the practice session, and that could put pressure on the out-of-form Nurul Hasan. Former skipper Mominul Haque is all set to return. Yasir Ali's performance in the opening game makes his place doubtful for second Test. If he is excluded, then Mahmudul Hasan wold come in which also suggests that Nazmul Hossain will return to No. 3 with Mominul at four.

Probable XI: Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Hossain, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das (WK), Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed/ Nasum Ahmed.

In the spotlight

He doesn't play often, but on a Chattogram pitch that offered slow turn, Kuldeep Yadav was a handful in his first Test after nearly two years. He ran through Bangladesh's middle order and took 5 for 40 in the first innings, and played a key supporting role in the second with three more wickets. Kuldeep is expected to come into the game even more in Mirpur, where the ball also tends to keep low, especially with his ability to change trajectory subtly. Kuldeep's other advantage is the total lack of practice Bangladesh's batters get against left-arm wristspin, even in the nets.

Zakir Hasan made a fairytale entrance at the highest level with a debut Test century in Chattogram. Last month, he wasn't originally picked in the Bangladesh A squad, but a few strokes of luck and a backs-to-the-wall 173 in Cox's Bazar put him in the selectors' radar. The fourth-innings century in Chattogram has sealed his spot for the Test, and a bit of consistency will cement a long-term place.

Stats and trivia

Zakir Hasan is the ninth batter to score a debut Test century in the fourth innings. Interestingly, the previous batter to achieve this feat, Kyle Mayers, also did it in Chattogram.

Cheteshwar Pujara is 16 runs away from becoming the eighth India batter to the 7000 mark in Test cricket.

If Axar Patel gets six wickets, he will become the joint fourth-fastest bowler to 50 in Tests, getting there in eight matches. Fred Spofforth, Alf Valentine, Rodney Hogg and Terry Alderman reached the landmark in their eighth Tests too. Vernon Philander and Tom Richardson got there in seven Tests, while Charles 'The Terror' Turner only needed six Tests to get to 50 wickets.

Quotes

"Any selectors here? (Laughs) If I am talking out of the room a little bit, it will be the same three spinners and welcoming back Taskin. Khaled as well. Sorry to the selectors but I am talking out of the room a little bit. That's what I can see happening. Good news is that Shakib is good to go. Looking at the pitch, I think he will very much come into play."

Bangladesh fast-bowling coach Allan Donald spills the beans on their combination

"This wicket, even in the ODIs, we could see it had more help for bowlers, it had more pace. I'm sure this game will get decided. Looking forward to play a good game, and win it."

India batting coach Vikram Rathour.

It was a familiar story for Bangladesh at Chattogram. Far too often, they've lost Test matches due to inept batting in the first innings, leaving them with too much to do thereafter. Which means that even a spirited fightback in the second innings can't prevent them from a heavy loss. On a surface that actually got better to bat on as the game progressed due to the extreme slowness of the deck, the hosts would be disappointed with themselves. On expected lines, India were too hot to handle and the only time they ever looked to be in some discomfort was in the first session of the opening day when their top order got shaken a wee bit. Barring that, it was pretty much smooth sailing for the visitors and the action shifts to Mirpur for the final game of the tour. Bangladesh started the year with a bang, producing a shock overseas Test win in New Zealand. Can they end 2022 on a similar note? Let's hope we get a much more competitive game of Test match cricket.

India have had a long season which has led to injuries. Rohit Sharma and Navdeep Saini have been ruled out. Stand-in captain KL Rahul too had an injury scare in the nets with a blow to his hand but batting coach Vikram Rathour is hopeful of Rahul coming in. Conditions wise, expect a turning pitch that will test batters' stamina and persistence. For details, check out Mohammad Isam's preview. The sun is out and players are practising, KL Rahul is doing his drills which is a good sign for India.

Ashish: "Xmas time, not much work in office, WFH still ongoing and there is a test match. I am loving my life this week " Cheers

Adhiraj Ghoshal: "India shouldn't take the Bangladesh team lightly "

Originally posted by: SoniRita

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Despite Bangladesh's loss, they will be happy to have Zakir Hasan find his stride right away with a debut hundred. Taijul Islam Mehidy Hasan Miraz were among the wickets. On a wicket where Wasim Jaffer recommends having three spinners, they have a good setup going in. Their bowlers also have England, who had away wins against Pakistan, to draw inspiration from. The quicks having an attacking mindset, boldness, and a willingness to give it all is what fast-bowling coach Allan Donald is looking for.

Sandeep: "Team that bats better against spin gonna win this"

Arijit Daripa: "Bangladesh has good track record at Mirpur..so hoping for an exiciting test match"