India vs Bangladesh: Big question mark on Pant, Kohli to be rested for T20I?

Ahead of the upcoming tournament, BCCI selection committee will announce 15 member squad for the Bangladesh T20I on Thursday.

Hyderabad: After a successful Test series against South Africa, Team India will now focus on the shortest format of the game as they prepare to host Bangladesh for three-match T20Is series, starting from November 3.

Ahead of the upcoming tournament, BCCI selection committee will announce 15 member squad for the Bangladesh T20I on Thursday.

The selection panel will also decide whether Virat Kohli will feature in the series or will be given rest as he is playing extensively after the World Cup. This will also be a make or break series for Rishabh Pant as the left-hander has failed to impress the selectors. Pant also recently lost his place in the Test team to the Wriddhiman Saha.

The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are out of the contest as they are suffering from injuries.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's upcoming tour to India had also garnered attention as Bangladesh cricketers' are currently on strike. However, newly-elected BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is hopeful for series to happen.

Let's have a look at India's probable 15 member squad for T20I series

Top Order

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul (Shubman Gill)

The openers

If Virat Kohli is rested then vice-captain Rohit Sharma will be leading the side. However, Virat's absence will put a question mark on who will be India's number three. KL Rahul who is in the side as a backup opener can play at the number three spot.

Rohit and Dhawan as openers have done wonders for Team India but in recent past, Dhawan's T20I form has gone down which might lead to Rahul opening the innings for India.

Meanwhile, young batting sensation Shubman Gill might too get the nod as a Virat Kohli replacement in the side and would be looking to cement his place with good results if given a chance.

Middle Order

Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (Sanju Samson)

Manish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer

No one in recent past has looked as convincing as Shreyas Iyer at number four in the limited-overs cricket for Team India. Team management will be keen on giving him more chances in the shortest format of the game.

Manish Pandey has looked in fine form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and will look to make most of it. He was not given the opportunities in the West Indies series but this time team management will use him down the order.

Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant

Always in news, Rishabh Pant has started feeling the heat as the left-hander has failed to put an impact and to add more to his misery his competitors have started performing. Sanju Samson, who recently scored a double ton in Vijay Hazare Trophy, has closed the gap between him and Pant. Samson might finally get his opportunity in national colours.

It is also noteworthy that India's T20 World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni is not available for selection.

All-rounders

Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja (Shivam Dube)

Shivam Dube

In the absence of Hardik Pandya India has always faced a big problem of a quality allrounder. Ravindra Jadeja has done no wrong in the shortest format of the game as well. Another left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya (T20I specialist) won the Man of the Series award in India's last series.

Team management in a bid to find a substitute for Hardik can look to try out Shivam Dube the fast-bowling allrounder who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last edition of IPL. The Mumbai-based all-rounder has been putting consistent performances in the domestic cricket.

Spinners

Washington Sundar and Rahul Chahar (Mayank Markande)

Washington Sundar

The new type of strategy which the Team India in implementing right now is they are trying to play in more allrounders so that they can bat deep. Due to this strategy, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were kept out of the side.

Washington Sundar has impressed everyone in the limited opportunities that he got. His skils with the new ball has helped India take early wickets and keep the opposition with tight lines in the powerplay overs. Leg spinner Rahul Chahar had a great domestic season and will keep his position in the team even when he was not given a single chance in South Africa series.

Mayank Markande who had a cracking season for Mumbai Indians two seasons back can also get a chance.

Fast bowlers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar (Khaleel Ahmed)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

When we talk about Indian pacers one name which we have to take is of Jasprit Bumrah and as he won't be there in this series due to injury the responsibility of taking wickets will be on the young shoulders of Navdeep Saini and Deepak Chahar. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be making his comeback into the side after missing out the South Africa series.

Khaleel Ahmed, the only left-arm pacer around can also expect selection as the Indian team management is building a team for the T20 World Cup and left-arm bowlers have done a great job in this format.

India's probable squad

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