Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has said the team is looking forward to starting preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup with the three-match series against India, set to begin on Sunday in Gwalior.
The city last hosted an international match back in 2010. Now, after nearly a decade and a half, it is hosting another international fixture, this time at a new venue.
India have rested some of their key players for this series, opting instead to field a team that includes several inexperienced players, three of whom have yet to make their international debuts.
The Indian squad has collectively played fewer than 400 T20Is, while the Bangladesh team has over 600 T20I appearances. However, this difference in experience might not play a decisive role, as the Indian side boasts more diversity in skills compared to Bangladesh.
Ahead of this series, Bangladesh have played 14 T20Is against India, winning only once—in Delhi.
Bangladesh will need to play aggressive cricket to improve this record. Key players like Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Mahmudullah Riyad, and Mustafizur Rahman must perform to their full potential. At the same time, younger talents like Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Tamim, and Rishad Hossain will have to prove their worth against India.
Despite their relative lack of experience compared to Bangladesh, the Indian squad includes players with impressive records in the Indian Premier League (IPL). For instance, Sanju Samson, who may open for India in this series despite poor performances in his last two T20I appearances against Sri Lanka, has shown what he is capable of in the IPL, which could inspire him to do well in this series.
While Bangladesh aims to begin their preparations for the next T20 World Cup, they will undoubtedly miss the services of Shakib Al Hasan, who has retired from the format.
In Shakib's absence, Bangladesh have brought in Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is not a regular in the T20I setup. Despite his limited experience in this format, captain Najmul expressed confidence in Mehidy’s ability, hoping he will quickly adapt and fill the gap left by Shakib.
The first match of the series will kick off at 7:30 pm (Bangladesh team) on Sunday. The remaining matches will be played in Delhi and Hyderabad on October 9th and 12th.