Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: India’s youthful and energetic cricket squad is set to face Bangladesh in the final T20I of the three-match series on Saturday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
With the series already secured through two dominant performances — a seven-wicket win in Gwalior and an 86-run victory in Delhi — India are eyeing a clean sweep to cap off a successful campaign, which includes a 2-0 win in the preceding Test series against the visitors.
The big question for fans now is whether India will make significant changes to their playing XI, potentially giving fresh faces a chance. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted at this possibility, acknowledging that the team might hand opportunities to youngsters in the squad.
The first two matches saw impressive debuts from fast bowler Mayank Yadav and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Yadav impressed with his pace, while Reddy shone with both bat and ball, showcasing his all-around talent.
Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed in the pre-match press conference that the team is keen to test more players, including Harshit Rana, who could make his debut.
“Yeah, that was always the plan. Obviously, there’s nice depth in the squad, and a lot of guys have got IPL experience. We try to expose as many guys as we can to international experience with what we’ve got coming up. So someone like Harshit Rana we’re keen to give a game to,” he said.
Additionally, he mentioned that although Jitesh Sharma is also an option, the team management wants to give Sanju Samson another opportunity. “Jitesh is there as well, but we want to give Sanju another chance. So there are options, and certainly the plan originally was to win the series, get the series won and then try a few new faces for the last game,” Ryan added.
However, ten Doeschate emphasized that under the new regime, opportunities are earned, not simply handed out.
“Someone like Nitish, an emerging player of the IPL last year, impressed us with the work he’s done, and that goes for everyone who comes into these squads. They’re very carefully selected,” he noted. “Jitesh (Sharma) and the guys that haven’t played, Tilak (Varma) and Harshit, just having them around and seeing how they operate will be important in the next 18-month period.”
India’s approach highlights their focus on depth and preparing a solid bench for upcoming international tournaments. With a series win already secured, today’s match could be an opportunity for new talent to shine on the big stage.
India’s probable XI for 3rd T20I against Bangladesh:
- Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Nitish Reddy,
Hardik Pandya , Riyan Parag,Rinku Singh , Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana
