India Eyes Series Sweep and Player Development in Final T20 Against Bangladesh
India will be on a quest for a clean sweep as they prepare for the third and final T20 match against Bangladesh here on Saturday. Having already clinched the series 2-0 with victories in Gwalior and New Delhi, the Indian team under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir aims to showcase their dominance while also evaluating promising second-line players.
The current squad has demonstrated an unwavering desire for victory, exemplified by their resilient performance during the rain-affected Test in Kanpur against the same opposition. With a potential 3-0 series finish, this would align well with their previous 2-0 success in the Test series.
Beyond achieving a series sweep, the focus will be on integrating new talent into the team’s white-ball strategy, especially as they gear up for significant events like the Champions Trophy. The current season is packed with global and bilateral showcases, making it essential for the team to establish a robust backup lineup.
In this context, Gambhir and his coaching staff are keen to assess the readiness of emerging players, including pacer Mayank Yadav and spinner Varun Chakravarthy. Both have made notable contributions in this series, with Mayank clocking speeds over 150 km/h and Chakravarthy securing three wickets in his first match in three years.
Another player under scrutiny is Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed in the Delhi T20 with a rapid 34-ball 74 while also taking two wickets. His continued performance could solidify his position in the team.
However, the form of openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma has raised concerns. Samson, granted the opportunity to open in this series, has recorded modest scores of 29 and 10, leading to speculation about his spot in the lineup. Meanwhile, Abhishek’s scores of 15 and 16 further exacerbate the pressure on the middle order, which faced early challenges in the second T20I.
The team management is also contemplating providing match opportunities to players on the bench, such as leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and all-rounder Harshit Rana, to explore their potential contributions.
On the other side, Bangladesh will be looking to secure their first win of the tour. For that, they will need a consistent performance from key players, including captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, and Mustafizur Rahman, who have yet to find their rhythm.
Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Tilak Varma.
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah, Litton Kumer Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan.
The match is set to commence at 7 PM IST.
