Bangladesh are set to face India in the first T20I of the three-match series in Gwalior on Sunday evening. Bangladeshi fans will be keeping a close eye on two players—Towhid Hridoy and Rishad Hossain—wondering which of them could be the Tigers' X factor.
Both Towhid and Rishad have proven themselves as integral parts of Bangladesh’s T20 squad. Towhid has drawn attention with his big-hitting abilities, while Rishad has impressed with his leg-spin and his knack for clearing the boundary at crucial moments.
Before this series, Bangladesh faced India in 14 T20Is, with only one victory. But this time, the Tigers are bringing more experience than the Indian squad, as India have rested some key players.
Who will replace Shakib in T20Is for Bangladesh?
This Indian side has collectively played fewer than 400 T20Is, whereas the Bangladesh team has collectively played more than 600, which places Bangladesh in the rare position of being a more experienced side than India, who have always been considered a big team for Bangladesh.
However, this difference in experience may have little impact, as the Indian players possess a broader diversity of skills, which the Bangladesh team lacks.
If Bangladesh are to improve their T20I record against India, Towhid and Rishad will need to perform well.
Towhid has played 29 T20Is so far, amassing 600 runs at a strike rate of over 130. Rishad, with 24 T20Is under his belt, has taken 29 wickets, including 10 in the recent T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, where he was among the tournament’s top bowlers.
Bangladesh will certainly miss the services of Shakib Al Hasan, who recently announced his retirement from the format. To fill the void, Bangladesh has included Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the squad.
Najmul eyes India series to begin preparations for next T20 World Cup
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed confidence that Mehidy could step up and help fill the gap left by Shakib.
The match will begin at 7:30 pm(Bangladesh time) in Gwalior. This city is hosting an international match for the first time in over a decade, and the venue, Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, will be hosting its first-ever international match.