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Red ball cricket is back for India, who begin a stretch of five Tests over the next month and a half, beginning here in Chennai against Bangladesh, who are coming off the back of their stunning series win in Pakistan.
DATE/TIME: Thursday 19th September 2024 – UK – 5:00am / India – 9:30am / US EST – 12:00am / Wednesday 18th September 2024 – US PST – 9:00pm
VENUE: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, India
WEATHER: Sunshine and scorching hot temperatures across all five days that are unlikely to drop before 30c.
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / India – Sports18 / US – Willow TV
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / India – JioCinema / US – Willow TV
INDIA FORM: AFTER FIRST TEST DEFEAT, INDIA STORM PAST ENGLAND
India’s last Test series was a five-match duel with England earlier this year, which saw them lose a dramatic opening Test. However, as was the case when the two collided back in 2021, India bounced back emphatically to win the remaining Tests without reply, once again underlining their formidable strength in red ball cricket at home.
LAST FIVE: WWWWL
BANGLADESH FORM: HISTORY MADE IN RAWALPINDI
Bangladesh were not given much hope of securing a series sweep against Pakistan away from home, but they defied the doubters and in brilliant fashion. There was no doubt as to who is the better Test side right now, as the Tigers won both games in Rawalpindi convincingly, first by a resounding ten wickets, before a six-wicket triumph straight after, sending a message to the cricketing world.
LAST FIVE: WWLLL
INDIA BETTING ANALYSIS
All of India wait with anticipation for Virat Kohli to return to the crease in Test whites. Kohli boasts 8,848 Test match runs across his glittering career so far and the magic 10,000 mark must be firmly in his sights by now. A player of his class is capable of grinding the Bangladesh bowlers into submission, then cashing in once established at the crease, so back Kohli to rack up over 81.5 match runs across the five days.
BANGLADESH BETTING ANALYSIS
Plenty of Bangladesh players deserve credit for an incredible all-round effort in Pakistan, but from a betting perspective, Litton Das is perhaps the one who warrants most focus heading into this next game, as we search for value in terms of what markets to make a play on. Das backed up a half-century in Bangladesh’s first test against Shan Masood’s side with a magnificent 138 in the second Test. Confidence and form can go a long way in India and backing Das to score the most first innings runs for the Tigers via the ‘Team – Top 1st Inns Batter Market’ looks an enticing move.
INDIA VS BANGLADESH EXPERT PREDICTION
India on their own patch is as hard as it gets for any nation in Test match cricket. Their last home series defeat came all the way back in 2012 and although Bangladesh will be well equipped to cope with the sub-continental conditions, the skill and quality of India’s players will be really hard for the Tigers to compete against.
Expect the spin of Ravichandran Ashwin to play a huge role in Chepauk on a pitch that should offer substantial turn as this Test goes on. Back Ashwin, one of India’s more proven, experienced performers to claim over 5.5 match wickets across the match.
INDIA VS BANGLADESH TIP: INDIA TO WIN