India Playing 11 for first T20I vs Bangladesh: Sanju Samson in but will Varun Chakravarthy and Mayank Yadav play?

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India Playing 11 for first T20I vs Bangladesh: India's three-match T20I series against Bangladesh will kick off with the first match in Gwalior on Sunday, October 6. It will be India's third T20I series after their T20 World Cup triumph in June this year.

India sealed a victory in Zimbabwe, before a 3-0 win in Sri Lanka. Suryakumar Yadav's India's T20I side will now lock horns against Bangladesh at home. In the absence of a few of the regular players, eyes will be on the India playing elevens for the series.

The Men in Blue would be aiming for a winning start in Gwalior and therefore picking the best possible India playing eleven for the first T20I against Bangladesh would be very important.

While a few players will qualify directly in the eleven, there will be a toss up between a group of players. In the absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal , Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson will be in the playing eleven and is very likely to open with Abhishek Sharma.

The likes of Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag and Arshdeep Singh are also direct entries. Washington Sundar, and Ravi Bishnoi were mighty impressive with the ball in Sri Lanka and should retain their places. Sundar also gives batting depth to the team.

Will Varun Chakravarthy play in the first T20I vs Bangladesh?

But then the question arises will comeback man Varun Chakravarthy play his first match for India in three years? Captain Roop Singh Stadium is hosting a T20I match for the first time. In fact, the last international match player here was in 2010 when Sachin Tendulkar became the first player to hit a double hundred in ODI cricket.

India had played that match with three specialist pacers, but majority of the overs were bowled by the three spinners - Virender Sehwag, Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja. South Africa pacers were hammered all over the park as India scored 401/3 in 50 overs.

India will have three spinners in Parag, Bishnoi and Sundar even if they don't include Chakravarthy in the eleven. The exclusion of the leg-spinner would allow India to play one between Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Chance of the Indian thinktank opting for the second option is more, and therefore Chakravarthy might have to sit out in the first T20I.

Harshit Rana or Mayank Yadav?

The second toss up could be between Harshit Rana and Mayank Yadav. The Gwalior pitch is known to aid the pacers with good bounce, and it would definitely be tempting to give Mayank a debut opportunity. Notably, the youngster crossed the 156 kmph mark in the IPL 2024.

Rana was also part of the Sri Lanka tour but did not get a debut opportunity, and therefore got to play the first T20I ahead of Mayank. Rana was the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024.

Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has been recalled, but will most probably sit out.

India's Predicted Playing 11 for 1st T20I against Bangladesh: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy/Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana

India's squad for 3 T20Is against Bangladesh: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, JItesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav