The brand-new Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior is all set to host its first international match as India square off against Bangladesh in the first T20I of a three-match series on Sunday, October 6. After a 14-year gap, an international match will be played in Gwalior, and fans will be hoping for a high-scoring encounter at the venue.
This venue features both red and black-soil pitches, but this match will be played on a black-soil surface located in the centre of the playing field. The expectation is for a typically flat track, similar to many T20I venues in India, where runs tend to flow freely. However, predicting exactly how the pitch will behave remains uncertain.
“We don’t know what will be the condition,” Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy said ahead of the match. “Looking at the practice wicket, I feel it is a slow pitch. On such wickets, [chances of] having a high-scoring game is very less. No IPL match has also happened here.”
However, India captain Suryakumar Yadav disagreed with Hridoy’s assessment. He believed that the pitch would produce a competitive T20I match. “The wicket does not appear low and slow to us,” Suryakumar said in the pre-match press conference. “I think it will be a good, competitive T20 pitch.”
Regardless of the conditions, both teams must prepare thoroughly. The team that adapts to the conditions early will be able to dictate terms. This is where pressure could mount on the inexperienced, injury-hit Indian side. With the New Zealand Test series approaching, many first-choice players have not been selected. Although the squad is inexperienced, they have all played a significant amount of T20 cricket, particularly in India. This format won’t be given much priority, as the next T20 World Cup is in 2026, with the Champions Trophy and World Test Championship final taking place before then.
This series may not offer India much in terms of challenges, given that they’ve only lost to Bangladesh once in 14 matches. However, it’s a great opportunity for younger players to step up as the build-up for the next T20 World Cup begins. On Saturday night, it was confirmed that Shivam Dube would miss the series due to injury, with Tilak Varma named as his replacement in a squad packed with versatile players.
Dube’s absence could pave the way for India to test Nitish Kumar Reddy. As per Suryakumar, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are set to open the innings. All eyes will be on the exciting Mayank Yadav, who is in line for his India debut.
Varun Chakaravarthy will be hoping to revive his India career with a string of good performances. This is a great opportunity for him.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, arrive with a well-rounded squad. Their experienced batting order will be crucial as they look to set the tone, especially in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan. The return of Mehidy Hasan Miraz adds much-needed balance and depth to their side. Rishad Hossain is a player to watch from Bangladesh’s camp.
While spin is expected to play a key role, the fast bowlers, led by Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Hasan Sakib, will also need to deliver solid performances. Both teams are evenly matched on paper, with the ability to outplay each other on any given day.
Squads:
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Varun Chakravarthy, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana.
Bangladesh: Litton Das (Wk), Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Rakibul Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon
