After registering a comprehensive win over Bangladesh in the first Test at Indore by an innings and 113 runs, India is geared up to host their first-ever day-night Test match. It will be a landmark in the history of Indian cricket s the Eden Gardens turns pink to welcome both the teams. Despite being one of the superpowers in the world of cricket, India will be one of the last teams to feature in a pink Test – alongside Bangladesh on Friday.

In the context of the series, India would start as overwhelming favorites. The visitors’ poor show in the Indore Test clearly indicated the difference between the two sides in terms of quality and experience as it lastest just for three days. However, it will be a relatively tough ask for the batsmen from both teams to sight the pink ball during different hours of play each day. The bowlers are expected to have the upper hand if the history of Day-Night Tests is anything to go by.

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In the past international Day-Night Tests ahead of this match, the fast bowlers have enjoyed the conditions and the extra movement of the ball due to pronounced seam. While the pacers should ideally get some help, the weather is perfect for this historic fixture. Both teams would love to field first and pick early wickets on what is a decent track to bat on.

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Citing the intensity of the match, here are some of the predictions for the game:

India

Although this is a Day-Night Test match, India isn’t expected to make any changes to the side that beat Bangladesh in Indore. The Indian batting unit is in fine form with Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma registering double hundreds in this season. Although Cheteshwar Pujara’s form is a slight concern. Ravindra Jadeja is expected to play as the floater with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane manning the middle order. 

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh should more or less field the same XI for the iconic game with the possibility of fielding an extra pacer firmly on the cards. Mustafizur Rahman might get the nod over Taijul Islam as he looks to fit into the bowling attack alongside Abu Jayed and Ebadat Hossain. Saif Hassan has suffered an injury which should see the pair of Shadman Islam and Imrul Kayes open the batting once again. The onus will be on the duo of Mominul and Rahim to deliver the goods with Liton Das and Mahmudullah Riyad batting around them.

Predicted XI: Shadman Islam, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque (C), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Liton Das (WK), Mehidy Hasan, Abu Jayed, Ebadat Hossain, and Mustafizur Rahaman.

Fantasy XI Prediction

Mushfiqur Rahim, Cheteshwar Pujara (vc), Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Mominul Haque, Mehedy Hasan, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami (c), Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, and Abu Jayed.