Finally, the second Test match in the two-match series between India and Bangladesh began at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium. Day 1’s start was delayed due to rain during the night and damp weather in the morning. However, India captain Rohit Sharma surprised some fans by choosing to bowl first when the captains emerged for the toss at 10:00 am (IST) rather than the anticipated 09:30 am.
India has not decided to field first in a home Test match for the previous nine years. India last chose to field first in a home Test match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against South Africa in 2015. The only time the hosts chose to field in an Indian Test match under Virat Kohli’s leadership was that one. At Kanpur, a 60-year-old record was equaled when a team chose to field first after winning the toss.
Rohit Sharma Team’s Record in Kanpur
This will be the first Test match between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur. India and Bangladesh have faced off in 14 Test matches. With just three losses in 23 Test matches played here, Rohit Sharma’s team has a great record in Kanpur. Still, they have only won seven games, and the majority of the 13 Tests that remain have ended in draws. In the 24 Test matches that have taken place in the city, the current match between India and Bangladesh is only the second time that a team has elected to field first.
At this location, a side winning the toss and fielding first has only once before, in the 1964 Test match between India and England. On a pitch where many analysts thought he should have batted first, Rohit Sharma’s team won the toss and chose to bowl first. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the captain of India, was the last captain to accomplish this, having done so in a 1964 Test match against England.
Unchanged Playing XI for India
India skipper Rohit Sharma left the playing 11 unaltered. There was a belief that India could field an additional spinner, but Rohit decided to stick with the bowling attack of three seamers and two spinners after the team won the series’ first game in Chennai. The surface available for the IND vs. BAN 2nd Test appeared different from a typical Kanpur surface, and the clouds prevented any views of India batting more than their strength.
A few rumors circulated, suggesting India might replace one pacer and add an extra spinner to the starting lineup. According to sources, task management may be why Jasprit Bumrah is resting. But Rohit Sharma announced that they would be sticking with the same starting lineup for the game after winning the toss and choosing to field first.
For the first time in five years, India is using the same playing XI following two consecutive Test matches. The following players are in India’s playing XI for the second test against Bangladesh: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant (wk).
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