Mission Impossible for Tigers

With Bangladesh set to take on hosts India in a two-match Test series, the real challenge for the visitors is yet to begin.

While the Tigers won the first Twenty20 International against the Men in Blue, resulting in their first international win in India (that too against India), the hosts came back strongly to win the three-match series 2-1.

The third T20I was a back-and-forth contest and had Bangladesh held their nerve, they could have won the match and the series.

Having said that, the Tests are expected to be much more one-sided with the hosts ranked number one in Tests, winning their last 11 home Test series, which is a world record.

They just recently finished demolishing South Africa 3-0 in their last home Test series – two of those matches being won by an innings – and they are well ahead in the ICC Test Championship rankings.

It almost seems inevitable that they will win the whole thing, but as we all know, cricket is a game of "ifs" and "buts" and you can never count out the opposition to spring up a big surprise.

That is something that the Tigers will for sure be looking to do, and that is something that they will have to play out of their skins and play some of their greatest ever cricket to achieve.

Win toss, bat first

It's imperative that the team winning the toss should be looking to bat first and score big as the pitch will deteriorate with time.

Bangladesh have to bat first and score big if they are to have any chance of getting a result here.

Facing the Indian bowling in the fourth innings is the stuff of nightmares and one should think that the Bangladesh team would want to avoid it.

The top-order needs to fire

Mominul Haque, the stand-in captain has spoken about the team being ready for the challenges against India and now it's time to show that in the field.

The captain, along with the top order will have to form partnerships and cannot afford to lose wickets in clusters – something that has been a long-term problem for the team.

With Tamim Iqbal not part of the tour due to family reasons, the onus will be on a new opening partnership to give the team a bright start.

Left-hander Shadman Islam has shown good signs in his short Test career so far, and Saif Hassan is expected to join him as his opening partner.

Saif has been in tremendous form in the domestic scene, recently hitting a double-ton in the National Cricket League, and one would expect him to replicate that form here too.

The seniors must step up

Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Taijul Islam are three vital cogs in the Bangladesh wheel and they have to lead from the front.

In the recently concluded T20I series, Bangladesh did well when Mushfiq and Mahmudullah performed and their contributions will be even more important here in the longest format.

Alongside, Taijul Islam will be the leader of the bowling attack, and has been bowling well in Tests for quite a while without much fanfare.

The off-spinner was the highest wicket-taker for the team in 2018 and will be a key player if the Tigers have to cause the Indian batting – one that is exceptional at playing spin – any trouble at all.

Without Shakib Al Hasan the bowling will take a hit, especially with the current form of Mustafizur Rahman.

So Taijul will have a lot riding on him and show his young, inexperienced bowling attack the way against arguably the best batting line-up in the world.

In the end, it will take a herculean effort from the Tigers to challenge the Indians in their own soil, and even then it will not guarantee them a positive result.

What fans of cricket would however want to see is some fight from Bangladesh to ensure they provide an engaging contest and lift the team back up from the ignominy of a home Test defeat against Afghanistan.