On Thursday (7th November) evening, the hosts India will face the visitors Bangladesh in the second T20I of the three-match T20I series at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium (Rajkot).
They played the opening T20I of this series on last Sunday (3rd November) at Delhi. It was the 1,000th T20I match where India suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Bangladesh. That was the first-ever T20I victory for Bangladesh against India.
India can’t afford another defeat in this series
Rohit Sharma-led Indian team has enough potential but suffered a defeat in the last T20I at Delhi. Apart from MS Dhoni and Jasprit Bumrah, the regular captain Virat Kohli is also missing in this T20I series, and expectedly it has put the significant effect on the team.
The experienced openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan need to provide the good starts. Also, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant like regular players need to improve their batting qualities. Shreyas Iyer is a very talented batsman and he can open up properly if he gets regular chances.
The pacers and spinners are very talented but most of them haven’t much experience in international cricket.
India can’t afford another defeat in this series. Meanwhile, they must have to win both the remaining T20Is to win this series.
One day ahead of this match, the Indian captain Rohit Sharma has hinted to change the playing XI according to the pitch condition.
Bangladesh are one win away to create another history
Despite the absence of some top experienced players like Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh have started this T20I series in a brilliant way. In the Delhi T20I, they dominated over the hosts in almost every aspect.
Bangladesh are currently the in-form T20I side. But they will face the tougher competition in the Rajkot T20I, as the superpower Indian team will be desperate to save this series anyhow. However, this Bangladesh team has enough talent to snatch another victory in this series.
The Bangladesh team is likely to field the same playing XI that secured the historic victory in Delhi T20I.
Stats Preview:
(India)
i) Rohit Sharma will become the second cricketer to play 100 T20Is. Only the Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik (111 T20Is) has played 100+ T20Is.
ii) The Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal needs to pick up one more wicket to become India’s leading T20I wicket-taker at home. He is on the joint top position in this list with the pacer Jasprit Bumrah as both have taken 24 T20I wickets at home.
iii) Yuzvendra Chahal (47 wickets), is three wickets away to complete his 50 T20I wickets. After Ravichandran Ashwin (52 wickets) and Jasprit Bumrah (51 wickets), Chahal will be the third Indian bowler to complete 50 T20I wickets.
iv) Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan (1,454 runs) is 46 runs behind to complete his 1,500 T20I runs. The left-handed batsman will be fifth Indian batsman to score 1,500 T20I runs.
(Bangladesh)
i) Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah has hit 48 sixes in his T20I career. He is two sixes away to become the first Bangladesh batsman to hit 50 T20I sixes.
Where to watch:
Star Sports Network will broadcast this match live on Thursday (7th November) from 07:00 PM (19:00 IST). Both English and Hindi commentaries are available for this match.