India generally retains the playing XI that is settled and has momentum, but after taking a commanding 2-0 lead, they are likely to turn experimental in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Hyderabad this Saturday. With their confidence sky-high, the hosts are to make some changes. Going into the series, a number of their top match-winners were unavailable, with others opting out of the shorter format. Bangladesh thus looked the better bet. However, India’s young talents, especially Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mayank Yadav, Rinku Singh quickly emerged to dispel the doubts by showing their skills right in the T20I series.
New Debutants Dominate The T20I Series
In the first T20I, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mayank Yadav made their international debuts, with Reddy scoring an unbeaten 16 off 15 balls and Mayank put a maiden over and registered final figures of 1 for 21. Nitish truly shone in the second T20I in Delhi when India found themselves in trouble at 41 for 3 during the powerplay. He was joined by Rinku Singh to construct a key partnership of 108-runs for the fourth wicket. Nitish made 74 runs off 34 deliveries. Along with Rinku, who hit seven sixes and four fours, scored 53 off 29 balls. Helped by well by Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag, India were able to come up with a good finish, resulting in a strong total of 221 for 9. Bangladesh, who were playing on home soil, could not cope with that total and ended up at 135 for 9.
While Bangladesh is left helpless, the hosts are loving the show by debutants Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel believes pacer Harshit Rana, of Kolkata Knight Riders, will play next game. That would mean KKR losing the opportunity to retain him as an uncapped player for 4 crore.
