With the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, the Indian cricket team is expected to announce its squad this week. While Rishabh Pant remains the primary wicketkeeper, Sanju Samson is set to take over as the No. 1 glovesman in the shortest format. However, the race for the second wicketkeeper’s slot is heating up, with Jitesh Sharma emerging as the frontrunner ahead of Ishan Kishan.
Sharma’s impressive performances for Vidarbha have caught the attention of the selectors, and he is believed to have an edge over Kishan, who is currently part of the Rest of India squad. Kishan’s selection in the Rest of India team suggests that his international comeback may be slightly delayed.
With the Test series against New Zealand starting on October 16, several top players, including Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah, are likely to be rested as part of the workload management program. This opens up opportunities for players who have been in good form recently.
Abhishek Sharma, the hard-hitting Punjab left-hander, is expected to return to the mix in the absence of Shubman Gill. However, it remains unclear who will partner him at the top of the order if both Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are rested.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain of the Rest of India team, is also in a tight spot as he will likely be busy with the Irani Cup until October 5, leaving little time before the Bangladesh T20Is begin. There is speculation that Jaiswal might play the first match, while Gaikwad could join the squad for the last two games.
Hardik Pandya is set to return to the national side, along with Shivam Dube. Other players who were part of the Zimbabwe series, such as Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Tushar Deshpande, and Ravi Bishnoi, are also expected to be included in the squad. Harshit Rana, who was in Zimbabwe as a backup pacer, could also get a chance.
