The India Cricket Team embarrassed and humiliated Bangladesh in the IND vs BAN 1st T20I. A complete all-round performance from all players saw the Men in Blue script a 7-wicket victory with more than 8 overs to spare. In Gwalior, Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy got their debuts. As the caravan moves to Delhi, can another speedster – Harshit Rana get his chance in the India Playing XI?
If he gets the India cap, the question is who will sit out to accommodate Harshit Rana? It can well possibly be Nitish Kumar Reddy. This move will trigger a fresh injection of a pacer in the team with Riyan Parag moving up the order and getting a chance to bat out in the middle.
Top order Set!
Prior to the 1st T20I, skipper Suryakumar Yadav made it clear that Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma would open for India. And come the second game, the opening pair won’t change. In fact both the batters batted well and gave India a quick-fire start to the innings.
Sanju scored 29 of 19 while Abhishek smashed 16 runs from 7 deliveries. The destructive start from India works well against any opposition who automatically will take the backseat.
At number 3, Suryakumar Yadav will slot in at his preferred spot in India Playing XI. SKY too unleashed his blitzkrieg where he hammered 29 runs from 14 deliveries. And then at number 4, Riyan Parag can move up the order. Parag didn’t get a chance to bat as Hardik and Nitish Reddy helped India chase down the paltry target in just 11.5 overs.
Finishers assemble!
Rinku Singh is arguably India’s best finisher and he will thus don the role of the aggressor. On the other hand, fellow southpaw Washington Sundar will be the anchor. The off-spinner too has the knack of hitting some big shots which was evident in his pre-match practice sessions.
No Nitish Reddy in the team means, India will be a batsman short, but that will be cancelled with India getting a huge boost in the pace department.
Will Harshit Rana get his debut?
As expected Arshdeep Singh will lead India’s pace attack. The left-arm pacer scalped 3 wickets in the previous game and has managed to amass 86 wickets from just 50 games having made his debut for the team back in 2022. Mayank Agarwal will continue to partner Arshdeep in the India Playing XI.
And now, home town boy Harshit Rana can get his much-awaited debut in Delhi and form the pace trio. Hardik will operate as the fourth pacer in the team, providing an extra bowling option for SKY.
Varun Chakravarthy bagged 3 wickets in the previous game and will obviously retain his place. This however means Ravi Bishnoi will have to sit out again. Chakravarthy last played for India almost 3 years back in the 2021 T20 World Cup and on his return shone brightly for the Men in Blue.
Predicted India Playing XI 2nd T20I
1. Sanju Samson (wk)
2. Abhishek Sharma
3. Suryakumar Yadav (c)
4. Riyan Parag
5. Hardik Pandya
6. Rinku Singh
7. Washington Sundar
8. Varun Chakravarthy
9. Arshdeep Singh
10. Mayank Yadav
11. Harshit Rana
India Squad for IND vs BAN T20Is
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tilak Verma, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav
