India is set to face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, with the first match starting on Thursday, September 19, in Chennai. The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, has been preparing for the series with intense training sessions in the city ahead of the first match.
The players, including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and R Ashwin, have been practicing at Chepauk Stadium, with a focus on tackling Bangladesh's spin attack. The Indian squad has been training hard since their arrival in Chennai, with three days of training camps by Monday.
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The team practiced on pitches that offered bounce, preparing for both pace and spin challenges. India is likely to play three spinners and two pacers, given the Chennai pitch’s spin-friendly nature.
Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to lead the spin attack, while Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will handle the pace duties. Rishabh Pant is likely to make his Test return, with Dhruv Jurel sitting out.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, enters the series after a successful tour of Pakistan, giving them a boost. However, they will face a strong Indian team, especially in home conditions, where spin is expected to dominate.
This series will be important for both teams as they look to strengthen their standings in the World Test Championship. Ahead of the first Test between the two sides, The Sporting News takes a look at the pitch report and previous records at this venue.
How many Test matches has M.A. Chidambaram Stadium hosted?
The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium has hosted a total of 34 Test matches so far. 13 of these matches have been won by the team batting first, while 10 have been won by the team batting second.
| Team | Won |
|---|---|
| Batting First | 13 |
| Batting Second | 10 |
| Draw | 11 |
How many spectators can M.A. Chidambaram Stadium hold?
M.A. Chidambaram Stadium has a seating capacity of about 50,000 spectators.
M.A. Chidambaram Stadium: Pitch Report
The pitch at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is known for supporting spin bowlers. In the past, fast bowlers used to get some help from the surface, but over time, it became more spin-friendly.
This change happened when India started using its famous spin bowlers like Bishan Singh Bedi and others. Looking at the records, most of the top wicket-takers at Chepauk are spinners. Among the top 10, only one is a fast bowler – Kapil Dev.
M.A. Chidambaram Stadium: Average scores and toss results in Tests
| Average first innings score in Chepauk | 347 |
|---|---|
| Matches won after batting first | 13 |
| Matches won by chasing team | 10 |
What happened in the previous Test match at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium?
In the last Test match at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, India defeated England by 317 runs. The match ended on the fourth day with India’s spinners finishing the job quickly.
Axar Patel took five wickets in England’s second innings, helping India level the series. Rohit Sharma’s 161 and R Ashwin’s century also helped in India's win.
England struggled against India's spin attack, with Ashwin also taking five wickets in the first innings. Moeen Ali was England’s top scorer in the second innings with 43 runs, but India’s dominant bowling sealed the win.
What is the highest score by a team at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests?
The highest team score at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is 759 for 7, made by India in a match against England in 2016. Karun Nair scored an unbeaten 303, and KL Rahul added 199. India went on to win the match by an innings and 75 runs.
What is the lowest score by a team at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests?
In 1977, India recorded the lowest team score in Tests at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. They were bowled out for just 83 runs against England.
Bob Willis led England's bowling attack with 3 wickets for 18 runs. Derek Underwood took 4 wickets for 28 runs which derailed India's batting lineup. England won the match by 200 runs.
What is the highest individual score at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests?
The highest individual score at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests is 319 runs, scored by Virender Sehwag. He scored this remarkable total against South Africa in March 2008.
Sehwag's innings was the most part of India's batting in that match, helping them to a massive total of 627. His innings is remembered as one of the most dominant performances at the ground.
What is the best bowling figure at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests?
The best bowling figure at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests belongs to Vinoo Mankad. He took 8 wickets for 55 runs, with 15 maidens in a match against England in February 1952. He is followed by Narendra Hirwani (2 occasions) and Harbhajan Singh, who also took 8 wickets in an innings at this venue.
Which batter has the most runs at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests?
India's Sunil Gavaskar has scored the most runs at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests. From 1973 to 1987, the right-handed batter scored 1018 runs in 12 matches, averaging 59.88 with a highest score of 236 not out. He has hit 3 centuries and 3 half-centuries at this venue.
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Which bowler has the most wickets at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Tests?
India's legbreak googly Anil Kumble, has taken the most wickets at this venue in Tests. He has taken 48 wickets in 8 Tests with an average of 19.56.
India vs Bangladesh, 1st Test: Betting odds
According to Dafabet, India are the favorites to win the 1st Test match against Bangladesh.
| Team | Betting odds |
| India | 1.05 |
| Bangladesh | 11.00 |
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