India and Bangladesh Face Off in T20I Series with Fringe Players in Focus
India and Bangladesh Clash in T20I Series Amidst Test Season
As the Test season rages on, India and Bangladesh will engage in a three-match T20I series commencing in Gwalior on Sunday. While India has rested its star players, the fringe players will strive to establish themselves as backups and enhance their IPL value.
Suryakumar Yadav leads a relatively inexperienced Indian side, but his players possess exceptional skills and versatility in the T20 format. Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh add experience, while newcomers Mayank Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana seek to make their mark. Abhishek Sharma, with five T20I caps, aims to increase his tally.
India’s fast-bowling department is depleted, potentially opening doors for debuts for Mayank Yadav, who impressed with his pace in the IPL, and Rana, a Kolkata Knight Riders title winner. Hardik and Shivam Dube provide seam-bowling support, while Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, and Varun Chakravarthy form the spin trio.
For Bangladesh, this series presents a golden opportunity to develop their game against a formidable opponent and potentially attract IPL scouts. Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman, Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed, and Mahedi Hasan, all seasoned T20I campaigners, must perform at their best for Bangladesh to challenge India.
With Shakib Al Hasan’s retirement from Tests and T20Is, Bangladesh’s lineup has undergone a transformation. Sanju Samson, with his impressive IPL form, is likely to open the batting for India alongside Abhishek. Legspinner Rishad Hossain, who emerged as Bangladesh’s top wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup, will aim to impress IPL scouts.
The Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium will host its first international match, with teams batting first in night games in India averaging over 190 runs in the past year. The weather is expected to be slightly cooler than usual on Sunday evening.