India’s batting legend Rahil Dravid, in his final address as head coach, urged modern-day great Virat Kohli to complete his trophy cabinet by winning the World Test Championship (WTC). India has won all ICC trophies except the WTC, and Kohli, like the team, has yet to conquer this elusive title.
The WTC is a relatively new ICC tournament, and India has been one of its most successful teams, reaching the finals twice before this cycle. However, they lost to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023.
India is once again a favorite to reach the finals, and this time they aim to complete their trophy collection. After breaking their ICC trophy drought with their second T20 World Cup title this year, India now sets their sights on the WTC title.
Their final stretch of the ‘Road to Lord’s’ begins with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. India has never lost a Test match against Bangladesh, but the gap in the WTC standings is not as significant as the Test rankings.
Bangladesh is coming off a historic series win over Pakistan, which has boosted their confidence. However, India has not lost a Test series at home for over a decade.
India’s form in the current WTC cycle has been impressive, with six wins, two defeats, and one draw in nine matches. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has three wins, three defeats, and 45.83 percentage points in six matches.
While Bangladesh is in good red-ball form, India has not played Test cricket for over six months. However, most of the Indian team members participated in the domestic Duleep Trophy game to prepare for the five-day grind.
The series promises to be an exciting contest between two teams with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. India will rely on their experience and home advantage, while Bangladesh will look to capitalize on their recent momentum.
