India will take on Bangladesh in the first T20I of the series on Sunday, October 6. India (IND) and Bangladesh (BAN) are all set to continue their ongoing multi-format series by taking on each other in a three-game T20I series. Both sides lock horns in the first T20I at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Gwalior, on Sunday, October 6.
Both sides locked horns in a two-game Test series recently, where India managed to register wins in both games. The side will aim to put in a similar showing and defeat Bangladesh in the first T20I as well, getting off to a good start. Bangladesh know they are in the hunt and their playground on Sunday will be a brand new venue in Gwalior that India know little about. Whether the visitors will be able to put it all together in front of 33,000 very loud people is a different question altogether.
IND vs BAN : Previous Performances
Team India recently recorded 4-1 and 3-0 series wins in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka respectively. Moreover, back in June, the ‘Men in Blue’ clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies. Currently on a seven-game winning streak, the Indian team will be aiming to sustain their dominance in the format with another sweep over Bangladesh. The team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, and he will be aided by fellow senior star Hardik Pandya.
Bangladesh sustained a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies by losing three games in success towards the business end of the tournament. Under the leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh will be aiming to start afresh by keeping the next T20 World Cup in mind. Mustafizur Rahman, Litton Das and captain Shanto himself will start out as some of the senior most members in the visitor’s line-up.
IND vs BAN : Head to Head
| Matches Played | 14 |
| Won by India | 13 |
| Won by Bangladesh | 01 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture | 06 June, 2009 |
| Most-recent Fixture | 22 June, 2024 |
IND vs BAN : Pitch Report
The pitch is bit of an unknown, given this will be the first international at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, where there is extra security measures in place given some calls for a boycott. Teams batting first in night games in the last 12 months in India have averaged in excess of 190 runs, with four out of the eight teams scoring 200-plus batting first. The weather is likely to be slightly cooler than the usual daytime heat on Sunday evening.
The square at the venue has both red and black soil pitches but this particular match will be played on a black-soil surface bang in the middle of the playing area. The boundaries are approximately at a distance of 72 yards from the center. While pitches in Madhya Pradesh have historically tended to favour the batters (both Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag scored their ODI doubles on them after all), how this one will play is anybody’s guess.
The pitch, if it matters, bears a few barren patches across the length and has been kept under hessian covers to protect it from drying out too much. Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy, having practiced at the facility for two days, felt it would be a “low and slow” pitch. The groundsmen are keeping their fingers crossed about the outfield, which lacks a sub-air drainage system and witnessed a fair amount of rain last week.
The only cricket that’s been played at this brand new venue is the Madhya Pradesh T20 League, and that was back in June. The tournament witnessed an average first-inning total of 161. Chasing sides won seven and lost four out of 12 games, with one ending in a tie. The highest recorded total during the tournament was 278/4.
The surface at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium is expected to favour the batters. A high-scoring, fast-paced encounter can be expected on such a pitch, and opting to bat first and posting a big total on the board could be a wise decision. The pitch at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium will be expected to favor the batters. However, one cannot confirm the accurate nature of the surface as the stadium is yet to host a T20I game. The captain winning the toss will likely opt to field first in a bid to assess the playing conditions.
The weather in Gwalior during match time is expected to be a favorable one for 40-overs of action. With no chance of rain and a cloud cover of 0%, visibility will be perfect, ensuring uninterrupted play throughout the evening.
IND vs BAN : Big Picture : India’s T20 World Champions returns home
A T20I series in the middle of a Test season can be a hard sell but both India and Bangladesh will have their own priorities in the three-match series starting in Gwalior on Sunday. While India have rested their key players – and will additionally be without Shivam Dube who was ruled out with injury on Saturday* – the ones on the fringes will look to establish themselves as back-ups and will also be keen to increase their IPL value.
Suryakumar Yadav leads a side that’s less experienced than Bangladesh in T20Is, but his players are more skilled and versatile than Bangladesh’s in the format. Suryakumar, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh are among the experienced players in India’s side, but even the ones with less than ten T20I caps are stars. Newcomers Mayank Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana are the uncapped players, while Abhishek Sharma, who made his debut against Zimbabwe in July, has a chance to add to his five T20I caps.
The home side are also without most of their first-choice fast bowlers, which could open up debuts for Mayank Yadav, who hit 150kph for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, and Harshit, who won IPL 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders. Hardik offers them seam-bowling support while Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi and the returning Varun Chakravarthy make up the spin group.
As for Bangladesh, who don’t play enough T20Is, this is a huge opportunity. From developing their game against a strong opposition, to having an outside chance of being picked in the IPL, there will be excitement in the visitors’ camp.
The likes of Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman, Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan, all of whom have at least fifty T20Is under their belt, have to put their act together if Bangladesh are to beat India. Even relative newcomers like Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rishad Hossain and Tanzid Hasan have growing reputations. All of this is vital when they know who is no longer in their line-up. Shakib Al Hasan, who is arguably Bangladesh’s greatest cricketer, has announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is.
IND vs BAN : Vital Stats that matters
- This is the first international match at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which is located 12km to the west of Gwalior city. The last match held in the region was in February 2010 when Sachin Tendulkar struck the first double-hundred in ODIs, at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium.
- Bangladesh (644 caps) have a more experienced T20I squad than India (389 caps) in this series.
- At 37 years and 180 days, Shakib recently became Bangladesh’s oldest Test cricketer. Mahmudullah, part of this T20 squad, is second oldest in all formats for Bangladesh, now playing at the age of 38. Overall, Jahangir Shah is Bangladesh’s oldest international cricketer who played an ODI against New Zealand at the age of 41.
- India have won 18 of the 19 T20Is in 2024 (including two Super over wins) and are currently on a seven-match winning streak
- Bangladesh have a 9-9 win-loss record this year. Seven of the wins have come against Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Nepal and USA
- Tanzid Hasan has three ducks in his last four T20I knocks
IND vs BAN : In the Spotlight : Sanju Samson and Rishad Hossain
With India having picked just one opener in Abhishek, Sanju Samson will be pushed up to the top to partner Abhishek – Suryakumar confirmed as much on match eve. Samson has ducks in his last two T20I knocks, against Sri Lanka, but it will be his IPL form from earlier this year, that will give him and the team management the confidence going into this series.
Samson scored 531 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 153.46 in IPL 2024, once again underlining his ability in the format, something that he would like to bring into his international game quickly.
Leg spinner Rishad Hossain finished the T20 World Cup earlier this year with 14 wickets, level with Rashid Khan, at an average of 13.85 and economy rate of 7.76. He emerged as Bangladesh’s top wicket-taker in the tournament has now comes the second act: impressing IPL scouts in India. It will be tough to back up such a strong performance and even in the past many Bangladesh players have struggled to build on early success. Rishad has played just one competitive game since the 2024 T20 World Cup but has since been training in Dhaka to get up to speed.
IND vs BAN : Team News
India
Tearaway quick Mayank Yadav is all set for debut after a quiet domestic season which saw him spend most of his time at the NCA. It could mean that Harshit Rana will have to wait for his India cap after missing out on it in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that Sanju Samson will open the batting alongside Abhishek. Shivam Dube was ruled out of the series with back injury after India’s final practice session in Gwalior, so that could mean a debut for Nitish Reddy.
India Probable XI : Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk.), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Nitish Reddy/Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav
Bangladesh
As Nazmul Hossain Shanto’s team prepares for life after Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah keeps going strong for Bangladesh and middle-over runs from him will be crucial against the Indian spinners. In the fast-bowling department, there’s a choice to make between Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed.
Bangladesh Probable XI: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (wk.), Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam/Taskin Ahmed
IND vs BAN Fantasy XI : Sanju Samson, Litton Das, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Hardik Pandya, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Arshdeep Singh, Mustafizur Rahman, Ravi Bishnoi
IND vs BAN : Probable Top Performers from IND vs BAN
Probable Best Batter: Suryakumar Yadav
India’s Suryakumar Yadav could be the best batter in the upcoming game against Bangladesh. With 142 runs scored in his last five games, Suryakumar Yadav has been in good form, and he will aim to put in a good showing against Bangladesh once more.
Probable Best Bowler: Mustafizur Rahman
Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman could be the best bowler in the upcoming clash against India. With 18 wickets in his last 10 matches, Rahman’s spell could prove to be crucial for the visitors, and it could be interesting to see how he performs against India.
IND vs BAN : Match Prediction
Scenario 1
India win the toss and opt to bat first
PP Score: 60-70
IND: 170-180
India win the match
Scenario 2
Bangladesh win the toss and opt to bat first
PP Score: 35-45
BAN: 130-150
India win the match
Bangladesh lost both the Test matches to India. It will be interesting to see if they can pull up a victory in T20Is against India. Bangladesh has only defeated India once in a T20I game in the past.