It was moderately ill-tempered the final time these two sides met in Bangladesh, with Harmanpreet Kaur smashing the stumps and slamming umpires for “pathetic choices”, and the house captain Nigar Sultana criticising her “manners”. 9 months later, the larger image is the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh this September-October, as India and Bangladesh start their preparations with a five-T20I collection in Sylhet, beginning Sunday.
Constructing in the direction of T20 World Cup
Bangladesh have been thrashed 3-0 at dwelling by Australia just a few weeks in the past, and regardless of that drubbing they have not modified their squad a lot for this collection. India’s final T20I collection was additionally a 2-1 defeat at dwelling to Australia in December-January, the place seniors comparable to Harmanpreet and Smriti Mandhana had underwhelming performances. Nonetheless, a number of of India’s worldwide gamers obtained again to type within the 2024 WPL, and with some new names within the combine, they may hope to hold that momentum into worldwide cricket as effectively. Each groups might be eager to experiment and discover their ideally suited combos in these 5 T20Is earlier than they journey to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup in July, forward of the T20 World Cup later this 12 months.
Bangladesh’s batting struggles
Bangladesh want enchancment of their batting in the event that they need to give India a struggle. Within the current collection in opposition to Australia, they scored totals of 126 for 4, 103 for 9 and 78 all out. Solely their captain Sultana was per 96 runs in three innings, together with a fifty, although it got here at a strike fee of 91.42. The second-best batter for Bangladesh was Fahima Khatun, with 53 runs. From the squad that performed Australia, Bangladesh made only one change, bringing in wicketkeeper-batter Rubya Haider, who performed the three-T20I collection in opposition to Sri Lanka final 12 months, instead of uncapped Farzana Akter. The hosts will want top-order batters comparable to Fargana Hoque, Sobhana Mostary and Rubya to offer a stable basis earlier than Sultana can take off.
Can India’s high order flourish in Sylhet?
The final time India toured Bangladesh in July 2023, their high three had a disappointing collection. In three matches, Shafali Verma scored a complete of 30, Smriti Mandhana 52, and Jemimah Rodrigues 47. Rodrigues will miss this collection attributable to again niggle. So far as current type goes, each openers had a wonderful WPL, with Shafali ending because the third highest run-scorer with 309 in 9 matches at a strike fee of 156.85 and Mandhana simply behind her with 300 in ten video games at 133.92. With Richa Ghosh most well-liked because the staff’s first-choice keeper, Yastika Bhatia would possibly play as a pure batter at No.3; she scored 204 runs in eight video games at 121.42 as an opener for Mumbai Indians within the WPL. India will imagine their high three are higher ready this time.
WPL stars and an issue of lots
India doubtlessly have an issue of lots. Legspinner S Asha and spin-bowling allrounder S Sajana have earned maiden worldwide call-ups on the again of their WPL efficiency after years of toil within the home circuit. Asha, 33, grew to become the primary Indian to take a five-for within the WPL and he or she completed because the second highest wicket-taker (12) of the season, taking part in a vital half in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s title-winning run. Sajana was one among Mumbai’s breakout stars along with her big-hitting potential. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav has returned to India’s squad after a 12 months, following a powerful outing for Delhi Capitals, selecting up ten wickets in 9 video games at an economic system fee of seven.48. With Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil being the first-choice spinners, how India squeeze in Asha, Radha and Saika Ishaque within the XI stays to be seen. To accommodate Sajana within the lower-middle order, India would possibly even need to bench Amanjot Kaur.
Pitch and situations in Sylhet
The final T20I collection between the 2 sides was performed completely in Dhaka. India went in with three spinners and two seamers, with Shafali and Rodrigues chipping with extra overs of spin as part-timers. Bangladesh performed a spin-heavy assault with only one seamer in Marufa Akther. This time, all of the 5 T20Is are in Sylhet, from 3.30pm native time. The venue just lately hosted a males’s three-T20I collection between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in March, the place the common rating was 177 and 4 of the highest 5 bowlers have been quick bowlers. Some help for the seamers may be anticipated initially however each groups would possibly nonetheless financial institution on spinners for wickets. India have performed two T20Is in opposition to Bangladesh at this venue, and each occasions, they scored 150-plus and restricted the hosts to 100 or beneath.
