Bangladesh and India will play a two-match Test series, starting Wednesday, December 14, in Chattogram. India go into the series as the favorites; besides, they need to win by a 2-0 margin to keep their hopes alive of finishing in the top two of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 standings and qualify for the final. In Rohit Sharma’s absence, KL Rahul will lead India.
Bangladesh, too have a solid squad with a nice blend. We are in store for a cracking two-match affair. In terms of records, several players will be attaining pretty crucial milestones. On the same note, we analyze the series’ major records that can be broken.
450 wickets for Ashwin
India’s premier spinner R Ashwin has bagged 442 scalps and is the second-highest wicket-taker for his country after Anil Kumble. Senior spinner Ashwin has enjoyed a big legacy in the format, and his numbers in Asia are also impressive. Ashwin is eight scalps shy of recording 450 scalps in the format. He will become the ninth player to achieve the milestone after Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (675), Anil Kumble (619), Stuart Broad (566), Glenn McGrath (563), Courtney Walsh (501), and Nathan Lyon (450). Meanwhile, Ashwin also needs nine scalps to register 25 or more against Bangladesh. He will become just the 3rd Indian bowler to do so.
Kohli can go past these legends
India’s senior batter Virat Kohli has piled up 8074 runs at an average of 49.53. He has smashed 27 tons and 28 fifties. Kohli is in line to surpass former legends in the form of Geoffrey Boycott (8114), Kevin Pietersen (8181), and David Gower (8231) in terms of runs. Kohli can also equal Joe Root, Hashim Amla, and Michael Clarke in terms of centuries (28). He can also surpass these greats with two tons and Steve Smith and Sir Don Bradman (29 centuries each). Kohli, who has 392 runs versus Bangladesh, needs 108 more to reach the mark of 500. He can be the 3rd Indian batter to do so after Sachin and Dravid.
Key numbers in store for Shakib
Bangladesh captain and star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has scalped 225 wickets at 31.32. He is in line to get past the likes of Andrew Flintoff (226), Steven Harmison (226), Darren Gough (229), Gary Sobers (235), and Javagal Srinath (236), among others, in terms of wickets. Shakib has scored 4251 runs and is 249 shy of registering a mark of 4500. Notably at home. Shakib has scored 2725 runs and is 275 shy of 3000.
7000 runs for Pujara, 3000 for Ashwin
Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has scored 6792 runs at 43.81. He is 208 runs away from reaching a landmark of 7000 runs. Pujara can become just the 8th Indian batter to amass 7000 runs in the format. Meanwhile, Ashwin has scored 2931 runs and is 69 short of 3000 runs. He will become the first Indian with 450-plus scalps and 3000-plus runs,
Key numbers on offer for Mushfiqur
Mushfiqur Rahim has scored 5235 runs at an average of 37.93. He can surpass the likes of Kapil Dev (5248), Michael Slater (5312), and John Wright (5334) in terms of runs. Mushfiqur has scored 519 runs versus India and can surpass former Indian ace Rahul Dravid in terms of runs in the duels between these two nations.