Decoded: India vs Bangladesh 2024 Test Squad and Players List

Rohit Sharma returns as the captain as we decode the India vs Bangladesh 2024 test squad and full players list. 

It has been a busy few weeks in July so far for the Indian team contingent. While the players and team management are busy with the ongoing India vs Sri Lanka white ball series, the BCCI management and team franchises are busy planning for the IPL 2025 Mega Auction Retention Rules. Whereas the selectors will now be busy planning the upcoming important India vs Bangladesh 2024 Test series. 

Just after the Sri Lanka series, Bangladesh will be touring India in an important 2-match Test series which will be a part of the ongoing World Test Championship 2023-25. The Test series starts in September with the first Test match being played from September 19 to September 23, and the second Test match being played from September 27 to October 01.

While we are still a couple of months away from the test series, the planning for the final squad finalization has already begun. If we recall, India’s last Test series was against England, and a lot of senior players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, etc. missed the series due to injuries or personal issues. But almost everyone is expected to make a comeback in the Test series vs Bangladesh.

While we analyze the current potential list of players, it is important to note, that Team India might stick to selecting 15 players in the squad as they have been doing in all recent series post the T20 World Cup 2024. So, with such stringent squad strength, let’s decode the best squad that Team India can deploy for the 2024 Test series vs Bangladesh.  

Team India Squad for Test Series vs Bangladesh Breakup

If we look at the Test squad that played against England, a lot of new players were a part of the series with quality senior players being injured or rested. Among the quality players who missed the series partly or fully were Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Shami. In place of them, we can some exciting new players like Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikal, Rajat Patidar, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar. 

Now, if India have to select only 15, the ones who are almost confirmed to secure a place in the squad are Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gil, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. So, overall, 13 players are almost guaranteed for a spot in the squad for the Bangladesh Test series. 

This leaves us with only 2 spots, and for that, there are many players who are competing for those spots. From the batting perspective, there’s Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, and Dhruv Jurel. Whereas from the bowling perspective, there’s Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, and Prasidh Krishna. 

The squad of 15 Players?

Now, there are so many options present, and only 2 spots are available. Among the available options, Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel are most likely to get a nod. If we look at the last series, Sarfaraz Khan almost made the middle-order position of his own with some consistent performances throughout the series. So, this almost nullifies the positions of other batters. For the second spot, Dhurv Jurel did equally brilliantly as the wicket-keeper batter in Pant’s absence. So, Dhruv deserves a spot in the 11, if not as a keeper, then as a batter. 

Other than these 15, if at all, BCCI decides to increase the squad strength, we should see the team selecting players in the following order. The first in the line shall be Ruturaj Gaikwad, who should play the role of a backup opener. Rohit and Jaiswal are designated openers in the squad, but the team does need a backup opener, and Ruturaj shall fulfil that position. After Ruturaj, the team may think of Mukesh Kumar as an extra pacer, Washington Sundar as an extra spinner, and Devdutt Padikkal as an extra batter. 

India vs Bangladesh 2024 Test Squad and Best Players List:  

1. Rohit Sharma (c)
2. Sarfaraz Khan
3. Shubman Gil
4. Virat Kohli
5. Yashasvi Jaiswal
6. Dhruv Jurel (wk)
7. KL Rahul (wk)
8. Rishabh Pant (wk)
9. Axar Patel
10. Ravindra Jadeja
11. Ravichandran Ashwin
12. Jasprit Bumrah
13. Kuldeep Yadav
14. Mohammed Shami
15. Mohammed Siraj

So, that’s about the best squad for Team India for the 2024 Test series vs Bangladesh. Overall, India have to play only two Tests, so the probability of changing the playing 11 seems minimal. Hence, selecting a 15-member squad seems a viable option. Even with these 15 players, India have 5 solid batters,  wicket-keeper batters, 3 all-rounders, and 4 proper bowlers. It’s a well-balanced squad overall, and India winning the series 2-0 should not be a problem at all. 

To recap the current World Test Championship status, India are ranked first with 6 wins from 9 games with a PTC of 68.5%. Australia and New Zealand follow them with a PCT of 62.5% and 50% respectively. For the fourth and fifth spots, we have Sri Lanka and Pakistan with a PCT of 50% and 36.66% respectively. Post the Bangladesh series, India will play New Zealand at home and Australia away from home.  

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