A sense of expectation is hanging in the air. Afghanistan’s historic first Test has evoked considerable interest. The game’s romantics will celebrate the country’s triumph-of-the-spirit moment when the contest commences here on Thursday.
A surface with a dash of green awaits Asghar Stanikzai and his men at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. An inexperienced batting line-up will be probed both technically and mentally.
Given Afghanistan’s strength in spin, the host’s strategy of leaving some grass on the pitch for the Test is on the expected lines.
There is bound to be seam movement for the pacemen, at least till the end of the first session on day two. And the cloud cover here — it has also been raining sporadically in these parts too — should encourage swing.
This said, the spinners too could have a role as the match progresses; the track here has offered turn over the last couple of years.
But then, the spinners need sunshine for the pitch to become dry — they could then get the ball to grip the surface — and intermittent showers, forecast during the Test, could make things hard for them.
Going into the Test, India will also look at the bigger picture — the campaign in England. The greenish track here might be a part of that preparation. India is likely to play all three openers, M. Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and K.L. Rahul in the XI. One of them could bat at No. 3.
Cheteshwar Pujara, skipper Ajinkya Rahane and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, returning to Test cricket, make up the middle-order.
This means Karun Nair, so unlucky not to get a decent run after a Test-match triple hundred against England, would miss out again.
Selection in the eleven here could be a lot about a cricketer figuring in the selectors’ and team-management’s plans for England.
The Indian batsmen have faltered against spin in recent times — they do not play enough domestic cricket — and could be vulnerable against the mercurial Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
The home team might include three pacemen — Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and all-rounder Hardik Pandya — and two spinners — the experienced R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja — in the eleven.
There could be the temptation to play left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav but India is unlikely to disturb the Ashwin-Jadeja duo, so successful at home.
Virat Kohli’s absence from the Test has left his multitude of fans in the city disappointed. Rahane, however, has another opportunity to lead the country.
Rahane does possess attacking instincts as captain; he led India with imagination in the decider against Australia at Dharamshala last year.
Batting is Afghanistan’s weak flank. The side relies too heavily on the aggressive Mohammad Shahzad and has limited exposure to First Class cricket that enhances innings-building skills. But then, the Afghans have a priceless attribute — heart.
Given Shahzad’s value as a batsman, the visitors could ask Afsar Zazai to don the big gloves.
In the pace attack, Yamin Ahmadzai has this reputation of getting the ball to buzz around. However, Afghanistan’s fortunes will rest on its spinners.
On the face of it, the duel is a mismatch. The No. 1-ranked side against the Test cricket’s latest entrant. The gutsy Afghanistan will be hoping for a miracle.
The teams (from): India: Ajinkya Rahane (Capt.), M. Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, K.L. Rahul, Chesteshwar Pujara, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Karun Nair, Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur.
Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (Capt.), Afsar Zazai (wk), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Nasir Jamal, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahram, Zahir Khan, Sayed Shirzad, Yahim Ahmadzai, Amir Hamza, Wafadar, Ishanullah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Javed Ahamadi.
Play starts at 9.30 a.m.
