New Delhi, Sep 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) – As India readies itself to take on Bangladesh in the first Test of their forthcoming series, former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has put forward a daring strategy for the Indian squad. Raina has advised the Indian team to utilize a spin-heavy attack, advocating for the inclusion of three spinners and two fast bowlers for the match slated to start on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

The foundation of Raina’s strategy lies in the unique characteristics of the Chennai pitch, known for its black soil composition that traditionally favors spinners. He has proposed that India should field a trio of spinners—Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav—alongside the pace duo of Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.

“I believe India should go with five bowling options, that is three spinners and two pacers. Mohammad Siraj has been performing exceptionally well in Red ball cricket over the past few years, and we are all aware of Jasprit Bumrah’s prowess and his significant contributions to the Indian cricket team. Few fast bowlers in the world cricket arena have matched his achievements. So, with two pacers and the spinners—Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav—India should proceed confidently,” Raina conveyed to IANS during the LLC press conference.

Raina emphasized the lethal combination of Ashwin and Jadeja on Indian pitches. “The Ashwin-Jadeja combination on Indian soil is one of the deadliest in the cricketing world. Given the conditions that the Chennai pitch offers—black soil, high humidity, and consistent winds—they are poised to unsettle any opponent,” he elaborated.

India, currently leading the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a rating of 68.52 percent, aims to cement their top position. This series against Bangladesh holds immense importance as it sets the stage for subsequent series against formidable teams like New Zealand and Australia.

While Raina’s suggestions are based on his analysis of pitch conditions and current player form, he acknowledged that the final call will be made by Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who will evaluate the best team combination.

In a different sphere, Raina extended a warm welcome to his former teammates Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik as they join the third edition of the Legends League Cricket (LLC). “I would like to welcome Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik to Legends League Cricket. We have been playing cricket together since 1998, and it’s exciting that we will get to play again.”

The Legends League Cricket is set to make a return for its third edition, featuring former Indian stars Dinesh Karthik and Shikhar Dhawan as its newest participants. They have been directly signed by Southern Superstars and Team Gujarat respectively.

The defending champions Manipal Tigers, led by Harbhajan Singh, will face off against Konark Suryas Odisha (previously known as Bhilwara Kings) captained by Irfan Pathan at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur on September 20.