India vs Bangladesh: Will India tweak the Playing 11 for second T20I?

India winning a clash against Bangladesh surprises no one, but what transpired in Gwalior on Sunday holds significance in many ways for the Men in Blue. To begin with, India fielded a relatively inexperienced team under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav for the first India vs Bangladesh T20I. After securing the T20 World Cup trophy earlier this year, India has embarked on a journey to identify the next generation of talent to build a restructured T20I squad. As part of this search, players like Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy were called up for the Bangladesh series. One match into the series, it seems the selectors made excellent choices for the India squad.

India registers a thumping win in first India vs Bangladesh T20I

The India vs Bangladesh series kicked off with India electing to bowl first after winning the toss in Gwalior. IPL 2024 pace sensation Mayank Yadav and SRH all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy received their India caps ahead of the match. Among the more experienced picks in an otherwise inexperienced Indian side, Arshdeep Singh rattled Bangladesh in the first innings. Bangladesh got off to a shaky start, losing Litton Das in the opening over to Arshdeep. From there, the visitors struggled to establish momentum as India’s pacers continued their onslaught.

In an impressive display, Mayank Yadav marked his debut with a maiden over. He capped off his spell with a wicket, dismissing Mahmudullah for 1 off 2 deliveries. Additionally, the youngster boasted an economy rate of 5.20 in his maiden T20I outing. Mayank Yadav’s debut was arguably one of the most impactful for India in recent times. With his ability to consistently deliver balls at 150+ km/h, he showed great potential for securing a longer stint in the Indian team.

Chasing Bangladesh’s modest total of 105, India started aggressively, notching up 71 runs in the first six overs while losing just two wickets. Abhishek Sharma gave India a flying start, smashing a six and two fours to race to 16 runs off 7 deliveries. However, Sanju Samson, playing as an opener in this match, found himself involved in a miscommunication with Abhishek Sharma, resulting in Sharma’s run-out at the non-striker's end.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav then took charge, blasting 29 runs from 14 balls before being dismissed in the sixth over. Sanju Samson contributed 24 off 14 balls, laying a solid foundation for India’s chase. Samson continued to build his innings, reaching 29 off 19 balls before Hardik Pandya (39 off 16) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (16 off 15) guided India to victory. Hardik’s blistering innings were remarkable not only for his quick scoring but also for the audacious nature of his shots. He hammered a six over extra cover off the back foot against leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, followed by a no-look uppercut for four off Taskin Ahmed. Two balls later, Hardik sealed the win with another boundary and a six.

Is there any scope for India to change the Playing 11 for the next India vs Bangladesh T20I?

In total, India smashed 15 boundaries and 7 sixes, accounting for nearly 78% of their total score through boundaries. India wrapped up the chase within 12 overs, marking their fastest 120+ run chase in T20I history. With two more matches remaining in the series, India’s bench still boasts talents like Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, and Jitesh Sharma, all waiting for their chance in the Playing XI.

However, none of the selections in India’s XI from the first T20I showcased any pressing need for changes in the upcoming fixtures. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy made his comeback to the team after three years, following a poor showing in the 2021 T20 World Cup. The 33-year-old redeemed himself with a stellar performance against Bangladesh on Sunday, taking 3 wickets for 31 runs, matching Arshdeep Singh as the top wicket-taker in the match.

India also has additional spin options in Riyan Parag and Abhishek Sharma if necessary. With Nitish Kumar Reddy in the mix, the pace department appears solid with Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav, and Hardik Pandya in the playing XI. As India heads into the second T20I against Bangladesh, scheduled for October 9 in Delhi, it will be interesting to see if Harshit Rana gets his opportunity to earn the India cap. The pacer was part of India’s tour to Sri Lanka earlier this year but is yet to make his official debut for the national side.