As India prepares for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai on September 19, team selectors Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir face a critical decision: to include three seamers or three spinners in their lineup. The Chepauk pitch, characterised by red soil, is anticipated to deliver high bounce and carry, while also posing a potential risk for batsmen with the likelihood of reverse swing as the match progresses.
Reports indicate that the pitch will provide a conducive environment for fast bowlers, even though the extreme heat in Chennai is likely to favour spin as the Test unfolds. India is expected to field five bowlers, with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R. Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja almost certain to feature. The competition for the fifth bowling spot includes Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal, who is the only left-arm seamer in the squad.
Interestingly, the last time India fielded three pace bowlers in a home Test was against Bangladesh in 2019, making it a unique strategy in their Test history, particularly in the World Test Championship context. With a focus on securing positive results to maintain a top-two position in the WTC ranking, India historically leaned towards playing two seamers and three spinners.
Additionally, India's consideration of a third fast bowler also aligns with their strategies for the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, commencing in Perth on November 22. Mohammed Shami, nearing match fitness, is expected to join Bumrah and Siraj for that series, while selectors aim to identify at least three more pacers.
Although there have been discussions about utilising Bangladesh and subsequent New Zealand series to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, sources confirm no directive has come from the BCCI or team management to prepare pitches favouring seamers.
The landscape of Chepauk's pitches has significantly evolved since India’s last Test series against England in 2021. During that series, the Indian spin attack struggled on a pitch that proved too flat, leading to England's victory in the first Test before India levelled the series in the second encounter.
Notably, the current pitch setup at Chepauk features a mix of red soil brought from Mumbai, known to offer true bounce, alongside black soil pitches. With India conducting practice primarily on red-soil pitches, and Bangladesh using black-soil surfaces, the conditions could play a key role in determining the match's dynamics.
The likelihood of India opting for a third pace bowler appears stronger in Chennai compared to the ensuing Test in Kanpur, where the black soil pitch traditionally favours spin bowling.