New Delhi | Jagran Sports Desk: India is all set to host Bangladesh for a three match T20 series at home starting from Sunday. This is the first time when Bangladesh has invited for a full fledged tour to India since earning its Test status.
The first match will be played on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley stadium in New Delhi. However, questions have been raised over the rationale behind hosting the match in Delhi as the national capital is struggling with the air pollution post-Diwali. Many environmentalist were demanding to shift the match from Delhi but BCCI president Sourav Ganguly made it clear that match will not be cancelled.
The visiting side is also not complaining about the pollution levels in Delhi. On Friday, Bangladesh coach said that ‘no one’s dying’ as pollution is an issue in their country as well.
Coming onto the match, it will be a challenge for both the sides. The youngesters from the Men in Blue will line up for another World Twenty20 audition while a few seniors will try to get back into the groove while for Bangladesh, the ban imposed on their iconic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will definitely affect their preparations.
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Meanwhile, the Indian team will have to figure their bowling combination. The onus would be on Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar in the bowling department and it would be interesting to see what they bring to the table. India would also look at spin all-rounder Washington Sundar and hope that he make a case for himself.
Wrist spinner Yuzvender Chahal is also making a comeback in the side and he would look to earn back his place in the Indian side.
While the batting would depend on Rohit Sharma as skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for this series. Rohit is in perilous form and he would look to carry his Test form into the shortest format. But his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan is yet to find that big knock after making a comeback to white-ball cricket from a thumb injury that had cut short his 50-over World Cup in England.
Dhawan had scores of 36 and 40 during the South Africa series and struggled to find runs during the recently-concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he managed just one half-century in seven matches.
Among others, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Krunal Pandya and local boy Rishabh Pant look certainty in the middle order.
For India, it's also a chance to work out a strategy to do well when it bats first. The team management has identified this as an issue since if the top order fails, the middle order does not inspire much confidence.
Bangladesh have emerged as a potent cricketing force but they have not been in the best of form, of late. However, they would still pose a good challenge for team India, especially with their strong batting line up which is led by skipper Mahmudullah Riyad.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Khaleel Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal, Deepak Chahar, Rahul Chahar, Shikhar Dhawan, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandya, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur.
Bangladesh: Mahmudullah Riyad (C), Taijul Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Kumer Das, Soumya Sarker, Naim Sheikh, Mushfiqur Rahhim, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Aminul Islam Biplob, Arafat Sunny, Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman and Shafiul Islam.
Match starts at 7pm.
(With PTI inputs)