India name squad for first Bangladesh Test; Rishabh Pant returns, maiden call-up for Yash Dayal

Mumbai: Rishabh Pant returns to the Test squad for the first time since December 2022 as India named a strong 16-member team for the Chennai Test against Bangladesh.

Uncapped left-arm quick Yash Dayal is another addition to the squad that will be led by Rohit Sharma, the BCCI said in a statement on Sunday night.

Aside from Pant, incumbent wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel retains his place in the squad as does KL Rahul, who has also donned the gloves before.

The spin attack comprises of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.

Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are the middle-order batters with Shreyas Iyer missing out. Shubman Gill also joins a strong top-order and could likely continue at No.3.

Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack that also has Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who impressed in the home series against England. Dayal adds a left-arm variation to the pace department.

The first Test of the ICC World Test Championship series will be played in Chennai before action shifts to Kanpur.

India’s squad for the 1st Test of the Bangladesh Test series: 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.

The Test series will mark the commencement of India’s international home season for 2024-25. India will also play three T20Is against Bangladesh and the team for the same will be selected later.