Bangladesh vs West Indies 1st Test Preview: Can Bangladesh Break a Long Mirpur Hoodoo?

The red-ball stage is set at Mirpur. Bangladesh host West Indies in the first Test on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, and the numbers tell a lively story. History leans Caribbean, form leans Bangladesh, and the CricStats data lean sits somewhere in between. Here is the full preview.

Head-to-Head: West Indies Hold a Big Edge

West Indies have dominated this Test rivalry since the first meeting in 2002. Of 20 Tests played, they have won 14 and Bangladesh just 4, with 2 ending as ties, draws or no results.

That is a lopsided record, and it sets the backdrop for a Bangladesh side that will want to rewrite the story at home.

The Most Recent Meetings

West Indies have won each of the last four meetings, and they have not lost to Bangladesh since November 2018. That year Bangladesh won at Mirpur by an innings and 184 runs, a reminder that this ground can produce a commanding home performance.

Recent Form: Momentum Favours Bangladesh

Across their last 10 completed Tests against any opposition, Bangladesh have won 4 and lost 4. West Indies have won just 2 and lost 6. That gap is the main counterweight to the historical record.

Bangladesh: A Mixed but Competitive Run

Bangladesh’s last 10 reads D L W W W L D W L L, newest first. They drew with Afghanistan on 9 Oct 2026 and lost to Australia by an innings and 51 runs on 22 Aug 2026. Before that, they beat Australia by 9 wickets on 13 Aug 2026.

Earlier results include big wins over Ireland: by 217 runs on 19 Nov 2025 and by an innings and 47 runs on 11 Nov 2025.

West Indies: Flashes of Brilliance, Inconsistent Results

West Indies’ last 10 reads L W D W L L D L L L. They lost to Pakistan by 8 wickets on 2 Aug 2026 after beating them by 90 runs on 25 Jul 2026. They also drew with Sri Lanka on 3 Jul 2026 after an innings-and-217-run win on 25 Jun 2026.

The pattern is striking: this team can win big, but the results have not been steady.

Venue Watch: Shere Bangla National Stadium

Mirpur has staged 29 completed Tests. Teams batting first have won 11 and teams chasing have won 10, so there is no heavy lean either way. The average first-innings total is 325, which gives a useful benchmark for what a competitive score looks like here.

Players Who Have Been in Form

Squads are not confirmed, so these are players who have performed over the last 12 months in Tests, not certain starters.

Past Stars of This Fixture

Since 2021, Kraigg Brathwaite leads the run charts in this fixture with 259 runs in 8 innings. Litton Das follows with 189 in 8 innings and Jaker Ali has 176 in 4 innings, both for Bangladesh.

With the ball, Alzarri Joseph has 21 wickets, Kemar Roach 19 and Jayden Seales 19, all for West Indies.

CricStats Prediction: What the Numbers Suggest

Over the last 10 decisive meetings, Bangladesh have taken 20% and West Indies 80%. On recent form, Bangladesh have a 50% win rate against West Indies’ 25%.

Blend those signals and the CricStats data lean makes West Indies slight favourites: Bangladesh 41%, West Indies 59%. That is what the numbers suggest, not a certainty. Test cricket has a habit of flipping scripts, and a home side with better recent form will back itself to do exactly that.

Can Bangladesh turn recent form into a first win over West Indies since 2018, or will the Caribbean record hold firm? Mirpur will have the answer.