The upcoming three-match T20I series between India and Bangladesh promises to be thrilling, especially with the first match set to take place at the newly-constructed International Cricket Stadium in Gwalior on Sunday. This venue is hosting its inaugural international match, and it will be India's first game in Gwalior since 2010. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM Bangladesh time.
India and Bangladesh haven't faced each other in a bilateral T20I series since November 2019. Their most recent encounter was in the T20 World Cup 2024, where India emerged victorious by 50 runs. Historically, India has dominated these fixtures, winning 13 out of the 14 T20Is played between the two nations, with Bangladesh's sole victory coming in Delhi in 2019.
Ahead Bangladesh will rely on the all-round capabilities of Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah Riyad. While Mahmudullah has been instrumental in stabilising the innings, his ability to score quickly in the lower order remains a concern. The pitch in Gwalior, known for yielding high scores in domestic T20 tournaments, is likely to offer plenty of runs.
If Bangladesh aims to adopt a new strategy in T20Is, players like Tanzid Tamim, Rishad Hossain, and Hridoy could be pivotal. Although Mahmudullah's experience is invaluable, his role in a revamped approach remains uncertain. The first T20I will be crucial in setting the tone for Bangladesh's future strategy.
For India, Suryakumar Yadav will captain the world’s top-ranked team, while Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the visitors. India has opted to rest all players selected for the Test series, introducing five players who missed the last series against Sri Lanka. Notably, Mayank Yadav from LSG is set to make his debut in this series opener.
In addition to Mayank, Delhi pacer Harshit Rana and all-rounder Nitish Kumar might also debut during the series. Nitish was initially selected for the Zimbabwe tour post-T20 World Cup but was sidelined due to injury, while Harshit did not feature in the five-match series in Harare.
The Indian squad also includes prominent names like Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, alongside World Cup winners Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh.
