Rishabh Pant Returns As BCCI Announce India Squad For First Bangladesh Test

BCCI declared the squad of the Indian team for the first Test of the series against Bangladesh starting on September 19 on Sunday. Star player Rishabh Pant made a comeback to the Test side after nearly 20 months as India announced their 16-man squad for the first match of the two-Test series against Bangladesh.

The former India skipper Virat Kohli also returned to the Test side after missing out on playing the five-Test series against England at home earlier this year. Pant who had a lethal accident on December 30, 2022, made a comeback to the Test side. The last time when Pant played in the longest format was back during the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur from December 22-25, 2022.

 NEWS - Team India's squad for the 1st Test of the IDFC FIRST Bank Test series against Bangladesh announced.

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… pic.twitter.com/pQn7Ll7k3X

— BCCI (BCCI) September 8, 2024

The BCCI also added uncapped fast bowler Yash Dayal as he scalped four wickets across two innings in the Duleep Trophy to earn his maiden call-up. Another notable inclusion is Akash Deep who managed to retain his place after claiming nine wickets in the Duleep Trophy first-round match. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are set to lead the pace battery against Bangladesh after missing the Duleep Trophy first-round fixture.

The Test series is set to take place from September 19 in Chennai, followed by the second Test that will be played in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1. The Indian team has played against Bangladesh in 13 Tests to date, with India winning in 11 matches and two ending in draws.

India Squad for the first Test against Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.