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Why Did Rohit Sharma Prefer Bumrah And Two Other Pacers On Chennai's Spin-Friendly Pitch?

India going in with three pacers at Chepauk [x] India going in with three pacers at Chepauk [x]

The M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is traditionally a spin-friendly surface, with the spin-bowlers bolstering their numbers at this venue. The pitch at this venue tends to turn right from Day 1, meaning that the batters tend to struggle in front of quality spin-bowlers.

In the last couple of years, Chepauk has witnessed black soil surface, which means that the cracks start to open right from the first day, and thus, it assist the spinners and helps them to trouble the batters.

Team India return to action on Thursday for a two-match Test series against a confident Bangladesh side at the Chepauk. The Bangladesh team are riding high on confidence after thrashing Pakistan 2-0 in the recently concluded Test series, and they have the self belief to defeat India in their own backyard.

Rohit Sharma's tactical reason to go with three-frontline pacers

Playing at a historically spin-friendly ground, eyebrows were raised when India opted to field three pacers, and went ahead with just two front-line spinners. The fans and the pundits were confused with India's bowling choices, however, the reason for playing three pacers is taken considering the nature of the Chepauk surface this time around.

The Chepauk surface being prepared by the curator contains red soil, which is known to produce more bounce and helps the pacers in the first couple of days. On a red soil surface, the pitch stays intact for the first two days, and from the third day onwards, the spinners start to come into action.

As a result, India are giving full-backing to their pacers to run-riot against the Bangladesh batters. Moreover, India will tour Australia in a couple of months time, and the Australian conditions favour the pacers. Thus, Rohit is making sure the pacers get enough match-practice ahead of the series.

Rohit, Gill, Kohli destroyed by Hasan Mahmud

Bangladesh opted to field first and the decision paid dividend as Hasan Mahmud destroyed the Indian top-3. He scalped the wicket of Rohit Sharma, and followed it up by dismissing Shubman Gill for a duck.

The Bangladesh pacer didn't stop there and came up with a brilliant delivery to scalp the big fish, Virat Kohli for just 6. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant started the repair work and at the stroke of lunch, India are 88/3.