Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, will be back in the whites to play a two-match home Test series against Bangladesh. The first IND vs BAN Test is scheduled to commence from September 19 (Thursday) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The IND vs BAN series marks the beginning of India’s home season and will also prove to be a prelude to the much more challenging contests that India will play in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.
India will be aware of the threat Bangladesh can pose as they are riding high after defeating Pakistan 2-0 in the two-match Test series in Pakistan’s den. And while some players will see it as a great opportunity to find their footing for the upcoming season, a few star Indian players might miss out on the IND vs BAN Tests.
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Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, who missed the India vs England series earlier in the year, are set to make their return along with other notable players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin. But a few key players might be absent, and surprisingly, they are some of the biggest names as well.
Here are the top Indian players who could potentially miss the India vs Bangladesh Test series:
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah might be the most notable absence for India in the IND vs BAN Test series, with a high likelihood that he won't feature in the series. Bumrah, who has been on a break since India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, was also not part of India’s tour of Sri Lanka. India's packed schedule following the Bangladesh series includes facing New Zealand at home, followed by a four-match T20I series in South Africa and then the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. So, one reason for Bumrah’s absence could be some rest for the hectic schedule coming up so that India have their best bowler raring to go.
Mohammed Shami
Another key player likely to miss the IND vs BAN series is Mohammed Shami. He played through the 2023 ODI World Cup with a right heel injury and has been sidelined since undergoing surgery. Shami has already missed some notable series, including the South Africa tour, the home series against England and then the 2024 T20 World Cup. While there's hope he could return for the New Zealand series, his availability for the IND vs BAN series remains unlikely.
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is another player we might not see in the IND vs BAN Test series. Iyer has been struggling in Test cricket recently, with his last 10 innings for India showing little promise. In the ongoing Duleep Trophy, he scored just 9 runs in the first innings for India D against India C but managed a respectable 54 in the second innings. However, his lack of consistency could be a concern. There is also a strong chance that KL Rahul, who is vying for a spot in the Test squad, could be preferred over Iyer.
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill might surprisingly miss out on the IND vs BAN Tests, with KL Rahul possibly taking his place at number three. Gill's recent poor form in the Duleep Trophy could jeopardise his spot.