KL Rahul

Rahul averaged only 14.25 across four Test innings -- scoring 22, 23, 10 and 2 - in the 2-0 series sweep over Bangladesh. Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes Rahul's average in Test cricket, which currently is at 34.26 from 45 Tests since his debut in 2014, is unacceptable for an opener in the longest format of the game.

On his Test comeback after 22 months, Kuldeep won the Player of the Match award after India registered a comprehensive 188-run win in the first Test against Bangladesh at Chattogram, picking eight wickets, including a fantastic 5/40 to bowl out Bangladesh for 150 in their first innings.

It was a day in which India thrived on a pitch which had some grass on it. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked four wickets each to bowl out Bangladesh for 227 in 73.5 overs, with a returning Mominul Haque being the lone ranger with a stroke-filled and calm 84.

Stand-in India captain K.L. Rahul revealed that left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat has replaced left-arm wrist-spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, in the playing eleven. "Hard decision on Kuldeep but we know Ashwin and Axar can find spin, and bring Jaydev in to cover all bases. Unfortunate decision for us to leave him (Kuldeep) out but it's an opportunity for Unadkat."

India won the first Test against Bangladesh by 188 runs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram last week and are now aiming for a 2-0 series sweep. The visitors' are touring Bangladesh without regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who is unavailable due to an injured left thumb.

"Most of the guys who were supporting whichever team are all out already. There were few Brazil fans, there were few England fans. So, I don't really know who is an Argentina or France supporter, so we'll just enjoy the game today. We're watching the game together, and we'll have a good meal," KL Rahul said in the post-match press conference.

Rohit had injured his left thumb while fielding in the second ODI against Bangladesh at Dhaka and had to fly back home to Mumbai to see a specialist, causing him to miss the third ODI and first Test. In his absence, Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran was named as a replacement in the Indian squad for the first Test. "About Rohit, I think we will get to know in the next day or two. I am not even aware of it. The focus was completely on the Test match," said KL Rahul in the post-match press conference.

Pant secured this achievement when he made a counter-attacking 46 runs off 45 balls, laced with six fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 102.22, to keep the scoreboard moving after India lost K.L. Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli.

As India, hit by multiple injuries of late including to captain Rohit Sharma, aim to play aggressive cricket, as said by stand-in skipper K.L. Rahul, against Bangladesh in the Test series opener at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, the race to make it to the WTC final for them also returns in a phase where Test cricket is happening from the sub-continent to the southern hemisphere.

Abhimanyu is a classical batsman who plays for Bengal in the domestic circuit and has been knocking on the selectors' door for the last couple of seasons and has been named as standby for a couple of series.