India is set to roll out its three-match T20I series against Bangladesh this Sunday in Gwalior, after successfully sweeping the Test series 2-0. The forthcoming series will be the first under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav and is expected to be invigorating with the inclusion of several new players. In view of the changes in the team line-up, here are five noteworthy points to expect from the Indian team during the series.
During India’s tour of Zimbabwe in July, the team frequently fielded as many as four openers for the games. However, in a contrasting approach to the upcoming Bangladesh series, India has selected just one opener, Abhishek Sharma, as part of its 15-member squad. It was during the Zimbabwe tour that Abhishek scored a quick and notable 47-ball 100, despite not contributing much in the following three innings. Considering Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the default options for openers in T20Is, this series provides an excellent platform for Abhishek to establish his competence, ahead of other contenders. An added advantage that Abhishek holds over players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad is his bowling prowess.
Sanju Samson, who had a remarkable IPL outing in 2024, was selected for India’s T20 World Cup team. However, with Rishabh Pant also on the squad, Samson did not get his chance on the field. Despite this, Samson did score a prominent 58 off 45 balls during the last T20I in Zimbabwe, even though he subsequently recorded two successive ducks in Sri Lanka. Samson, who generally plays in the middle order, might have to open the innings for the forthcoming Bangladesh series. Fortunately, this isn’t an entirely new position for him, given his experience of opening 45 times in T20 cricket, including five instances for Team India.
Arguably, the most fascinating feature of this series will be the performance of Mayank Yadav. Mayank was notoriously successful during the 2024 IPL run playing for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he intrigued the audience with his swift, over 150kph speed. With excellent control over his line and length, Mayank was a formidable force during the IPL games, earning him two Player-of-the-Match titles. A subsequent injury lead to his exit from the tournament, however, he has recovered fully and is ready to play again.
Following Ravindra Jadeja’s exit from T20I cricket, a vacancy has opened in the Indian cricket team. The three possible replacements for this series against Bangladesh include Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, and Varun Chakravarthy. While at first glance, Washington seems to be the direct replacement for Jadeja, the new team composition welcomes the potential inclusion of ace spinners such as Bishnoi and Varun.
Finally, considering that this is the last T20I series before IPL teams announce their retentions, the performances in the series could play a significant role in shaping the retention strategies of the IPL franchises. This is particularly applicable for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with possible debuts for their players Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the series. The teams would have to consider the significant financial difference between retaining an uncapped player for INR 4 crore and a capped player for a minimum of INR 11 crore.
