Hyderabad: Virat Kohli-led Team India is currently the team to beat in the longest format of the game. The ICC table toppers in Test rankings - India have done exceptionally well in the red ball cricket under Kohli's leadership. In fact, in the last few years India have been in sensation ride as they are unbeaten in home Test in last 11 bilateral series.
Virat Kohli-led outfit is also table-toppers in ICC World Test Championship point table with 240 points under their name from five matches against West Indies and South Africa respectively.
India had a perfect start to their WTC as they thrashed West Indies 2-0 in two-match series in their own backyard. Virat Kohli and co. continue their rich form against South Africa as they blanked them in three-match Test series in India.
India will next take on ninth-ranked Bangladesh for two-match Test series. Even though Bangladesh is lower ranked than India, BCCI's selection committee would be afraid to bring many changes in the side as the tour is part of ICC World Test Championship.
India's probable squad for Bangladesh series:
Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane
India's top five which consists of skipper Virat Kohli his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara, are expected to remain unchanged. As Kohli is expected to miss the T20Is series against Bangladesh, there is no reason for him to skip the Test series.
Rohit Sharma along with Mayank Agarwal would be India's number one choice opener for Bangladesh series. And Test specialists Chetestwar Puajra and Ajinkya Rahane will bat at number three and five respectively.
Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari
Jadeja will also retain his spot as he is the perfect spin-bowling all-rounder for India in home conditions along with spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin. Even though Hanuma Vihari was not able to contribute much to India in the only Test match he played in just-concluded series against South Africa, he will also retain his spot.
Wriddhiman Saha, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat
'World's best wicket-keeper Saha' was injured during the last Test against South Africa in Ranchi. And if his injury is serious than Rishabh Pant could replace him in India's playing XI while KS Bharat can get his maiden call for Team India.
Interestingly, despite being the only wicket-keeper batsman from India to score a triple hundred in a Ranji match, he has not been able to make his debut for India. However, if the reports are to be believed, it is being said that KS Bharat can be the next big thing for India.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma
Shami can be given rest for the upcoming series and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has played just six Test matches since 2016, can replace him in the Indian squad.
Shubman Gill
Meanwhile, young and exciting batsman Shubman Gill can also get his maiden call if Virat Kohli and co decide to rest any top-order player.
India's probable 15-man squad: Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hanuma Vihari, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Ishant Sharma
