India's predicted 15-man T20I squad for Bangladesh series

After the Freedom series trophy, the focus will shift towards India vs Bangladesh Twenty20 Internationals, the first of which starts on November 3. The series will provide another opportunity for the Indians to further build on their T20 set-up as they prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

According to the reports, Virat Kohli is expected to be given a rest for the rubber. The Indian captain has been involved in every single International that India has played since their heartbreaking semi-final exit from the 50-over World Cup, and Rohit Sharma will lead the unit.

Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube likely to get a chance

So, what would be the make-up of India’s T20I squad? For starters, the opening combination will have the usual faces. Skipper Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and KL Rahul will make up for the opening slot. Leading into the South Africa series, the pressure was on Dhawan, considering his dwindling T20 form. Even though he failed to put up a substantial score, but the left-hander looked in good touch against the Proteas, scoring 76 runs in 2 games, and is likely to open with Rohit Sharma.

With Virat Kohli more-than-likely to rest for the series, the onus of leading the middle-order will be on Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey. Iyer had shown great skills and tenacity in the limited opportunist he has got while Pandey is coming off a great run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (525 runs in 9 games). 

Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube are the likely new faces in the T20I set-up. While Samson has come into reckoning courtesy his whirlwind double ton in VHT coupled by the poor form of the incumbent Rishabh Pant and is expected to be the second wicket-keeping option in the squad. Dube, on the other hand, will have a great opportunity to showcase his all-round skills in the absence of Hardik Pandya.

The spin bowling department should contain the usual suspects in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, and leg-spinner Rahul Chahar while Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to make his comeback into the white-ball set-up and spearhead the fast bowling attack that will boast of Navdeep Saini and Deepak Chahar.

CricTracker’s Predicted squad for the T20I series vs Bangladesh

Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson, Manish Pandey Krunal Pandya, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar