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Team India are gearing up to face Bangladesh in the upcoming three-match T20I series, starting October 6 at the New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior. This comes on the heels of their recent two-match Test series, in which India dominated and completed a whitewash, winning both games convincingly. While the hosts look to extend their winning momentum, the visitors are determined to stage a comeback in the shortest format.
A young squad led by Suryakumar Yadav
The Indian squad for the T20I series will feature a relatively young lineup under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav. The selectors have opted for new faces and rested several Test regulars, including Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Siraj, with an eye on the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand later this month.
Among the new additions, pacer Mayank Yadav, who gained recognition in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, has been selected for the squad. Additionally, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed during the IPL, makes a return after an earlier injury ruled him out of the Zimbabwe tour. Abhishek Sharma, who scored a century in just his second T20I during the Zimbabwe series, also rejoins the squad.
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India’s best playing XI for the T20I series against Bangladesh:
1. Abhishek Sharma
- Strength: Aggressive opening batter with the ability to hit big shots early in the innings. His left-arm orthodox spin adds value as a sixth bowling option.
- Expectation: Abhishek is expected to provide aggressive starts at the top and chip in with the ball when needed, bringing balance to the team.
2. Sanju Samson (WK)
- Strength: A reliable wicketkeeper-batter with explosive power hitting. Samson has the ability to play both anchors and aggressive roles.
- Expectation: Samson’s consistency will be key. As a middle-order batter, he is expected to stabilize the innings and accelerate during the death overs.
3. Suryakumar Yadav (C)
- Strength: Unorthodox and aggressive shot-making capabilities that put bowlers under pressure. He excels in pacing the innings with a 360-degree range of shots.
- Expectation: As the captain, Suryakumar is expected to lead from the front, utilizing his experience to score runs and guide the younger players with his tactical acumen.
4. Hardik Pandya
- Strength: A dynamic all-rounder with immense hitting power and the ability to pick crucial wickets. He also has a knack for handling pressure situations.
- Expectation: Hardik will play the role of a finisher with the bat and serve as a crucial middle-overs bowler. He will also be responsible for providing leadership support to Suryakumar.
5. Riyan Parag
- Strength: An aggressive middle-order batter with a strong ability to hit sixes at will. He also bowls leg-spin, providing an additional bowling option.
- Expectation: Parag is expected to play a finisher’s role and contribute with quick runs in the latter stages of the innings, while also chipping in with the ball when needed.
6. Rinku Singh
- Strength: Calm under pressure with the ability to finish games, Rinku has showcased his talent for finishing close chases with his fearless batting approach.
- Expectation: Rinku will be tasked with anchoring the innings in tough situations and finishing games with his big-hitting ability, especially in pressure scenarios.
7. Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Strength: A powerful hitter capable of clearing the boundary with ease. His medium-pace bowling also adds depth to the bowling attack.
- Expectation: Reddy is expected to bat in the lower middle order, adding quick runs in the death overs, and also contribute with the ball to fill the fifth or sixth bowler role.
8. Washington Sundar
- Strength: A versatile all-rounder who is economical with the ball in powerplays and capable of contributing handy runs down the order.
- Expectation: Sundar is expected to control the flow of runs in the powerplay with his off-spin and play a supporting role with the bat, ensuring depth in the batting lineup.
9. Ravi Bishnoi
- Strength: A young leg-spinner with variations that trouble batters, Bishnoi has the ability to pick up crucial wickets in the middle overs.
- Expectation: Bishnoi will be responsible for breaking partnerships in the middle overs and providing breakthroughs with his aggressive wrist spin.
10. Mayank Yadav
- Strength: A pace bowler known for his speed and aggressive bowling style, he impressed in the IPL with his wicket-taking ability.
- Expectation: Mayank will be expected to use his pace to unsettle the Bangladeshi batters, particularly during the powerplay and death overs, providing a breakthrough option for the team.
11. Arshdeep Singh
- Strength: Left-arm seamer with great control over yorkers, especially during the death overs. His ability to bowl with precision makes him a reliable death bowler.
- Expectation: Arshdeep will lead the pace attack and is expected to deliver tight overs at the end, curbing runs during the death and taking wickets with his well-executed yorkers.
