India captain Virat Kohli, on Wednesday, November 13, has hinted at fielding three seamers in the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh to be played from Thursday (November 14) at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

The right-hander, who has recently returned to national duty after vacationing with his wife Anushka Sharma in Bhutan, reckoned that the Indore pitch could ask for three seamers against Bangladesh.

The captain also confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah isn’t still fit for the Test cricket, while crediting Ishant Sharma for India’s success in the longest format of the game over the past two years.

Read Also: Virat Kohli shares his first experience of practising with pink ball

Kohli told media on the eve of Indore Test, “Looking at the pitch, it (playing three seamers) seems to be the option, because of the way Umesh Yadav has bowled. Shami obviously has been brilliant.”

He continued, “Bumrah is not fit. Ishant, probably, has been our most consistent bowler in the last two years and the big reason for our success in Test cricket is the fact that he keeps bowling in the same areas, which allows others to come in and pick up wickets. Also, he has picked up 4-5 wickets in an innings when he is in the middle of a great spell.”

In the last 3-match Test series against South Africa, India fielded three seamers in the Pune Test, while the spinners Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin played all the matches and Kohli said conditions forced them to rest Ishant for the Ranchi Test.

Kohli signed off by saying, “Ishant’s experience will always be very handy for the team. The communication (between us) is always very clear, we have played cricket since Under 17 days, and hence, when I go and say something to him he understands where I am coming from.”

(With PTI Inputs)