India Predicted XI vs Bangladesh, 1st Test: Sarfaraz Khan And Star Spinner To Be Ignored?

India head coach Gautam Gambhir gave a press conference where he hinted about the team's combination in the series opener.

Team India will be back in action after 45 days as the Rohit Sharma-led side faces Bangladesh in the first Test of a two-match series, starting on Thursday in Chennai. This will be Gautam Gambhir's first assignment as head coach of the Indian team, having first taken charge during the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. On the eve of the match, Gambhir gave a press conference where he hinted about the team's combination in the series opener.

Without going into details, Gambhir suggested that youngsters Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel might have to wait a bit to get playing time. He all but confirmed that the returning Rishabh Pant and veteran batter KL Rahul would be preferred in the middle-order.

"We don't drop anyone. We just pick the players who fit the XI. We believe in selecting the XI. Jurel is a phenomenal player when Pant is coming in, sometimes people have to wait. Same with Sarfaraz. There will be opportunities and you have to wait," Gambhir said in a press conference on the eve of the start of the 1st Test.

Gambhir also highlighted the importance of having good equation with the senior members of the team, which is a clear indication that he is not ready to make a bold move by dropping a Test cricket veteran from the team.

"These are early days. Taking over as head coach of the Indian team is a completely different challenge. I've never been a head coach before, but having experienced players like Rohit, Virat, Ashwin, Bumrah, and Jadeja can make things easier," he added.