India vs Bangladesh T20Is: Shubman Gill rested, Ishan Kishan likely to return

The Bangladesh Tour of India will conclude with a three-match T20I series following the much-anticipated Test matches. With the Border Gavaskar Trophy and the WTC Final approaching quickly, the BCCI is keen on managing the workloads of key players in the white-ball formats. As a result, the BCCI has confirmed that Shubman Gill will be rested for the India vs Bangladesh T20I series. Gill is a crucial part of India’s Test lineup, alongside Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. While Kohli and Sharma have stepped away from the shortest format, Gill recently assumed the role of vice-captain in the white-ball formats. Now, with the Test season at the forefront, Gill, along with other important red-ball players, will take a break to prepare for the upcoming Test series in Australia.

BCCI confirms the absence of Shubman Gill from the India vs Bangladesh T20Is

India will kick off their home Test season with a two-match series against Bangladesh, starting in Chennai on September 19. The second match of the series will be held in Kanpur from September 27. With player fitness being a top priority, the management has decided to rest some key players for the T20I series. According to a report by PTI, Gill, who was named vice-captain in white-ball formats after Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach in July, is being rested to manage his workload. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the T20I side.

Under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, Team India will begin the IND vs BAN T20I series on October 7. The white-ball matches, following the two-match Test series, will be played in Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad, spanning a week. However, with T20Is taking a backseat after India’s historic T20 World Cup win earlier this year, the team will be without the services of vice-captain Shubman Gill, as per the latest BCCI updates.

"Yes, Shubman will be rested for the Bangladesh T20I series. If you look at the fixture, the three T20Is will be played on October 7 (Gwalior), 10 (Delhi), and 13 (Hyderabad). Now the first Test vs New Zealand starts on October 16. So, with a turnaround of three days, it is important to give Gill a break," a BCCI source shared recently.

This decision is part of the BCCI’s workload management strategy, aimed at keeping key players fresh for important Test matches. Gill, a vital figure in India’s top order across formats, is expected to play a major role in the team’s upcoming Test commitments. India is set to play 10 Tests in the current WTC cycle, leading up to the WTC Final in June 2025. Shubman Gill, who has established himself in the Indian top-order alongside Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, will be crucial in these upcoming matches. At the No. 3 spot, Gill’s all-round fitness is essential as India prepares for the critical series against Australia later this year.

The latest reports also indicate that pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will be rested for the India vs Bangladesh T20I series. Both are key pacers for the Indian team, and with the uncertainty surrounding Mohammed Shami’s return, it is crucial to manage Bumrah and Siraj’s fitness throughout the WTC cycle. Additionally, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who is set to return to Test cricket after nearly two years, is also expected to be rested for the T20I series.

A chance for Ishan Kishan to return to Team India?

With Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant likely to sit out of the T20I series, Ishan Kishan may have a chance to return to the Indian team. Kishan’s exit from the squad was a dramatic one. As a member of India’s squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kishan requested a break from the India Tour of South Africa earlier this year, citing mental health concerns. His absence from the domestic circuit, where he plays for Jharkhand, further complicated his situation. Due to his non-participation in domestic cricket, the BCCI removed Kishan from the central contracts ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, putting a dent in his international career prospects.

However, Kishan has been working hard to earn his way back into favor with the board. He returned to red-ball cricket via the Buchi Babu Tournament, and although he sustained an injury during the tournament, Kishan made a quick recovery to participate in the second round of the Duleep Trophy. He made an impactful return, scoring a century for India B on the opening day of the second round in the domestic red-ball series. Currently, Kishan seems to be taking all the right steps in his bid to reclaim a spot in the national team. With Gill and Pant resting for the T20I series against Bangladesh, Kishan appears well-positioned for a potential return, potentially joining Suryakumar Yadav in India’s T20I squad.