India is getting ready to kick-start the much-awaited home cricket season with a Test series against Bangladesh. The action gets underway Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here, marking the first Test for India after nearly six months. Their last Test had been played in March at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, which Rohit Sharma had led India to an easy win over. India had an astonishing home record in the last ten years, having won 40 of their 44 Test matches. Cracks have begun to show of late in such form, especially in the form of Virat Kohli. India is hoping to qualify for the WTC final while it also looks at the return of some of its key players such as Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant. The return of the said players is giving a selection headache to the team management. Bangladesh will largely depend on some of its players who were doing well in recent times, such as Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Raza, as they look to translate that form into this series against Pakistan. India vs Bangladesh - H2H In the 13 Test encounters between the two sides, India has won all but two, drawn the other matches. Bangladesh has never beaten India in Test cricket. It was back in 2022 when Bangladesh and India last played a Test match, the result of which was in favor of India by 1-0. The new head coach of the team, Gautam Gambhir, too would be eyeing a victory to mark the beginning of his Test coaching career. Indian white-ball tour to Sri Lanka had just returned with a mixed result as they got 1-1 series draw. Bangladesh played their first test against India in November 2000 at the Bangabandhu Stadium, Dhaka and never won a test against India. Thus, Bangladesh will look forward to changing the fortunes of this tournament and ending the barren run in which they have not won a test against India. Weather Report for the IND vs BAN 1st Test in Chennai Chennai Weather for the First Test: Mainly Clear at the time of playing the first test in Chennai. Expect temperatures to reach 35°C during the day and 28°C at night on the opening day. A 23% chance of rain, with having winds blowing at 10-15 km/h. For September 21, expect it to be partly cloudy with a 36°C high and 25% chance of precipitation. Generally, improvement is expected in the weather as time progresses because on September 22, it is going to be clear with expected temperature levels of 34°C. Chances of rain are expected to be only 13% on this day. On the last day, that is, on September 23, it is also going to be clear but with a slight drop in temperature to 33°C. However, there is still a 21% chance of rain. Also Read | "Pressure is a Privilege": Bangladesh Coach Chandika Hathurusingha Shows Confidence Ahead of India Series India vs Bangladesh - Live Streaming Details Live Streaming: India vs Bangladesh first Test will be live telecast on Sports18 and Colors Cineplex channels. The game shall also be streamed online on the Jio Cinema. Chennai Pitch and Its Impact The first Test pitch is prepared by red soil. However though there is a light covering of grass, much work is awaited to take place before the game begins. Earlier, both teams have practiced on a black-soil pitch; however, the red-soil pitch will suit fast bowlers, while the black-soil pitch suits the spinners. Indian team's selection might look for, whether to play a third spinner like Kuldeep Yadav or a third pacer such as Akash Deep or Yash Dayal. Chennai used to traditionally produce spin-friendly pitches, but in 2021, Chennai used a black-soil pitch that crumbled under the bat to favor the spinners. In the last Test played at this venue in 2021, India defeated England to level the series with a good performance from a local star of Ravichandran Ashwin and a century from Rohit Sharma. In that game, 17 out of 20 English wickets were lost to spin. Generally, teams who win the toss in Chennai are keen to bat first, as the pitch starts becoming more challenging for batting on the fifth day. There could be a bit more bounce and carry early on, especially in this encounter, but the spinners should find an impact more strongly after the third day. Also Read | IND vs BAN: Rohit Sharma Hints at Jasprit Bumrah's Possible Rest for 2nd Test India vs Bangladesh: Team News for first Test The playing XI for the first Test is yet to be decided. Whether they would go in with a complete three fast bowlers or three spinners would be the decision to take for Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to find a place in the side. The last slot can be taken by any of the Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, or Yash Dayal. India have played with two seamers and three spinners in home series traditionally. However, this is a series that could decide their qualification for the World Test Championship final. IND vs BAN - Squads India (1st Test): Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Yash Dayal Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicket-keeper), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Jaker Ali Anik, Syed Khaled Ahmed Also Read | List of Test Matches Abandoned Without a Ball Bowled