India is set to take on Bangladesh in the first T20I of the three-match series on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at the New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Gwalior. The match will start at 7:00 PM IST.
After a dominant 2-0 win in the Test series, India will be looking to maintain their supremacy in the shortest format as well. However, with several first-choice players rested, Suryakumar Yadav will lead a relatively inexperienced squad. Bangladesh, on the other hand, is in a transition phase, especially without Shakib Al Hasan, and will aim to compete fiercely under the captaincy of Najmul Hossain Shanto.
India has made several changes from their main squad. Shivam Dube is ruled out due to injury, with Tilak Varma stepping in as his replacement. Mayank Yadav might make his T20I debut, while Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy have a fair chance as well.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will be without their star all-rounder Shakib, who has retired from T20Is, and will rely on young talents like Towhid Hridoy and Tanzid Hasan.
India:
Bangladesh:
The New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior is hosting its first-ever T20I, and expectations are high for a batting-friendly pitch. The surface is likely to offer consistent bounce, making stroke play easier for the batters. Fast bowlers, however, might find some swing in the early overs. The weather in Gwalior is expected to be ideal for cricket, with temperatures hovering around 29°C and little chance of rain. A high-scoring game is on the cards, with pacers potentially playing a key role during the powerplay and death overs.
Sanju Samson: The hard-hitting Rajasthan Royals batter will open the innings and will also keep wickets in this series. Samson is an explosive batter who likes to take on the bowling. He will enjoy the batting friendly conditions in Gwalior.
Mayank Yadav: The talented pacer might be making his debut in this match but everyone is familiar with what he did in IPL 2024. If he can repeat the same things today, Mayank will trouble the Bangladeshi batters with his pace. He has a high chance of picking up multiple wickets tonight.
Najmul Hossain Shanto: The Bangladeshi skipper is their best batter and has been in good form of late. With four fifties to his name in this format, he has a high chance of emerging as Bangladesh’s top run getter in this match.
Rinku Singh – Although talented, Rinku might not get a chance to bat in this match as he bats at No.7 and the Indian top 6 is very strong He is a risk in a high-stakes fantasy game, and it’s better to opt for a player who will have more involvement in the match.
India is the favourite to win the first T20I, considering their superior head-to-head record against Bangladesh in this format. India has won 13 out of the 14 T20Is played between these two sides. Despite fielding a relatively inexperienced team, India’s depth in talent and home conditions are likely to give them the upper hand.
