The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 16-member squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, starting September 19 at M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, with Rohit Sharma as captain. Notable inclusions are Rishabh Pant, returning after a long injury layoff, and KL Rahul, who also makes his comeback. The squad features a balanced mix of experience and youth, with Yash Dayal receiving his maiden Test call-up following strong performances in domestic cricket. Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack, supported by Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal, while the spin department includes Ashwin, Jadeja, Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. The series is critical for India as they aim to improve their standing in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025. Shreyas Iyer has been dropped from the squad, having struggled with injuries during previous series.