India look to spin a new yarn, can Bangladesh be the uninvited critic?

After a string of onesided contests the Men in Blue find itself grappling with an unexpected weakness batting against spin This is a far cry from the dominant performances fans have come to expect and it raises questions about their readiness for the challenges ahead They are poised for yet another thrilling twist as India prepare to face Bangladesh in a twoTest series starting todayFresh off a convincing 20 series win against Pakistan Bangladesh is no longer the easy target they once were This newly competitive spirit adds another layer of concern for India as they embark on a long season filled with ten Tests and a potential spot in the World Test Championship Final The stakes have never been higherIndia boast an impressive home record of 40 wins and only four losses over the past decade However cracks are beginning to appear in this formidable facade particularly over the last three yearsAlso ReadIND vs BAN 1st Test Mahmuds threewicket haul restricts India to 883 at lunch on Day 1Bangladeshs captain Najmul Hossain Shanto R and teammmate Mominul Haque walk back to pavilion during a lunch break Pic AFPThe oncereliable Virat Kohli who was a cornerstone of Indiarsquos home success since 2015 has seen his numbers against spin take a nosedive Since 2021 Kohlis average against spin has plummeted to a mere 30 across 15 Tests This isnrsquot a condemnation of his immense talent but rather a glaring statistic that both he and his fans would prefer to see addressedSimilarly Rohit Sharma who once feasted on spin bowling has seen his average against slower bowlers drop significantly since 2021 While he enjoyed an astonishing average of over 90 against spin after his elevation to the opener in 2017 that number has dwindled to a more pedestrian 44 over the same timeframe KL Rahul who is often touted as being equally adept against both spin and pace paints an even bleaker picture In five home Tests over the last three years Rahuls average against spin has plummeted to 2340 a statistic that could raise eyebrows among selectors and fans alikeThese statistics serve as a wakeup call for the Indian batting lineup indicating a potential decline in their proficiency against spin It is also a reminder that the ability to tackle spin bowling is a fundamental skill for players from this cricketing nation Ryan ten Doeschate Indiarsquos assistant coach recently highlighted this very concern after the teamrsquos disappointing performance against Sri Lankan spinners in a threematch ODI series which ended in a 02 defeatOn a brighter note there are players like Rishabh Pant Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal who have shown promise Pant boasts an impressive average of 70 over five matches while Gill has averaged 56 over ten Jaiswalrsquos staggering average of 115 albeit largely inflated by a series against England lacking a formidable spin attack cannot be overlooked eitherHowever the challenge posed by Bangladeshrsquos leftarm spinners including Shakib Al Hasan Taijul Islam and offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz is likely to test their skillsAs India looks to combat Bangladeshrsquos bowling prowess they will rely on the explosive approach of Rishabh Pant who is set to make his return to Test cricket following a serious car accident in 2022 His ability to unsettle opposing bowlers will be crucial especially against a Bangladeshi spin attack that has the potential to wreak havoc on any given dayOn the bowling front Indiarsquos lineup appears formidable The trio of Jasprit Bumrah Mohammed Siraj and the spin duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja is as intimidating as they come regardless of the conditions The question remains whether India will opt for a third seamer choosing between Akash Deep or Yash Dayal or if they will follow the trend of deploying an additional spinner in Kuldeep Yadav especially given the redsoil pitch at MA Chidambaram StadiumAdditionally India may consider reintroducing Axar Patel into the fold which could enhance their lateorder batting capabilities against a Bangladeshi attack that includes express bowlers Nahid Rana and Hasan MahmudMeanwhile new head coach Gautam Gambhir will be eager to set the tone for his tenure After a rather underwhelming whiteball tour in Sri Lanka that ended with a 11 record Gambhir will be driven to kick off this Test series on a winning note His relentless pursuit of victory will undoubtedly add an intriguing dynamic to the teamrsquos approachSharma may adopt a different perspective on personal milestones and pressures but the collective effort of the team in this series will serve as a vital barometer for the challenges that lie ahead This series the first Test engagement for India in six months is not just about securing victories it is about setting a tone for a long and arduous season that could determine their fate in the World Test ChampionshipThe focus now will be on addressing their vulnerabilities against spin and recalibrating their approach to regain their dominance The stakes are high the competition is fierce and the journey ahead promises to be both challenging and rewardingWhether they can navigate these hurdles will define not only their performance in this series but also their standing in the world of cricket for the coming year