IND vs BAN T20Is: Five exciting players to watch out for

After their resounding success against South Africa, Team India is set to host Bangladesh for a three-match T20I series, starting November 3. The IND vs BAN T20Is will be followed by two Tests, the second of which will be India’s first day-night affair. India enjoy thorough dominance over Bangladesh, having won all of the eight T20I encounters between them.

IND vs BAN: The last meeting

It was in the final of the 2018 Nidahas Trophy that these two teams faced off the last time. Dinesh Karthik stole the show with a last-ball six to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Interestingly, this will be the first instance of the two teams meeting in a bilateral T20I tournament. All of their previous clashes have come in multi-nation competitions.

Both India and Bangladesh will be without their regular T20I captains in this series. India’s Virat Kohli has been rested while the tainted Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was recently banned by the ICC. With some fresh faces making an appearance, this will be an exciting tournament.

Here are five players who are likely to hog the limelight in this IND vs BAN T20I series:

Deepak Chahar (India)

A regular feature in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings, Deepak Chahar has made an impressive start to his international career in a short time. Despite a mediocre debut against England last year, Chahar caused the South African batsmen enough trouble in the recent T20I series. In the 7 overs that he bowled, the left-arm pacer picked up two wickets and conceded 37 runs. With one eye on the upcoming World T20 in 2020, he will hope to cement his place in the Indian T20I side. Chahar will be particularly useful on the fast and bowler-friendly pitches in Australia, where the T20 World Cup will be played. The Indian selectors will have their keen eyes on this youngster.

Sanju Samson (India)

This blazing wicket-keeper batsman is set to return to the international fold after a gap of four years. Sanju Samson recently smashed a phenomenal double hundred in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, attracting much-needed attention from the selection committee. India’s first-choice keeper Rishabh Pant hasn’t lived up to his full potential of late, which means this is Samson’s best chance to impress. If captain Rohit Sharma decides to give him a go, Team India could possibly unearth a new sensation.

Rohit Sharma (India)

The amalgamation of Test cricket and Rohit Sharma was a thing of beauty to witness in the series against South Africa. The added responsibility of captaincy in the Bangladesh T20Is will only add more fuel to the fire burning within the prolific opener. With a not-so-good outing against South Africa in T20Is, Rohit will be itching to get back to form. His performance against Bangladesh in the shortest format is particularly impressive – 8 matches, 356 runs, 4 fifties at an average of 44.50.

Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)

Bangladesh’s premium left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman made waves with his scintillating performances in the 2015 series against India. Making his ODI debut, he picked up a five-wicket haul and also took home the Man of the Match award. Mustafizur scalped 13 wickets in the entire series and played a crucial role in helping Bangladesh win the series. Since then, he has been a vital cog in their bowling line-up and is now the leader of their pace attack.

‘The Fizz’ is also an experienced T20 campaigner, having played in various T20 leagues across the globe. With the Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mustafizur has an added familiarity of playing in Indian conditions. 52 wickets in 34 T20Is at a strike rate of 14.48 – Indian batsmen will have to be wary of this spearhead.

Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)

In the absence of Shakib Al Hasan, this chirpy wicketkeeper and middle-order batsman will have to shoulder most of Bangladesh’s batting responsibility. Mushfiqur Rahim was in phenomenal form in the 2019 World Cup in England with two fifties and a hundred. Despite lacking the experience of playing in India, he has been exceptional against the Indian spinners. In 8 T20Is against India, he has racked up 165 runs at an average of 33 with a personal best of 72*. Besides being an aggressive batsman, the veteran is one of Bangladesh’s finest wicketkeepers. He will have his sharp eyes on the Indian batsmen, especially those dancing down the crease.