REAL TEST BEGINS FOR INDIA

On the eve of opening tie in Chennai, coach expects his wards to rise to the occasion

- ASHOR VERUCCPAL

IT’S India versus Bangladesh. Two sub-continent sides set to test each other’s mettle with the first of the two-Test series set to commence at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Thursday. The meeting has all the ingredients to be a compelling contest.

Bangladesh are fresh from a Test series victory over Pakistan in Pakistan while India enter the game on the backdrop of a forgetful ODI series in Sri Lanka. The Indian batters, including the likes of Virat Kohli, toiled against Sri Lankan spinners and lost the ODI series then. Ahead of India’s latest challenge, there are several storylines as to how things might unfold. Many believe that the two-Test series could be a battle between India’s batting and Bangladesh’s spin. India head coach Gautam Gambhir is backing his batters to step up during the series. “Our batting unit has so much quality that it can take on any spin unit. There is a lot of difference between ODIs and Tests. It’s all about the mindset and working and strengthening your defence and once you have it, then you play around it,” said Gambhir.