India is set to play three T20Is against Bangladesh after the culmination of the ongoing two Test matches. The series will begin on October 6 and India will be captained by Suryakumar Yadav. The three T20Is will be played in Gwalior (October 6), Delhi (October 9) and Hyderabad (October 12).
Reports have stated that Jitesh Sharma could well pip Ishan Kishan for the second wicketkeeper's slot in the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian T20 team.
With Rishabh Pant focusing on 10 Tests this season, Sanju Samson is set to be India's first-choice gloveman in the shortest format for the time being, with Jitesh from Vidarbha likely to be ahead of Kishan in the race for the second wicketkeeper's spot.
Kishan's inclusion in the Rest of India squad means that his international return may be delayed slightly. With the Test series against New Zealand beginning on October 16 in Bengaluru, prominent players including India Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to be rested as part of the workload management plan.
Some players may miss out due to their participation in the Irani Cup, which will be held in Lucknow from October 1 to 5. Many of the players who competed in Zimbabwe's five-match T20I series in July of this year will be considered.
Abhishek Sharma, the hard-hitting Punjab left-hander, is expected to return in the absence of Shubman Gill. However, it is unknown who will join him at the top of the order if both Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are rested.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, captain of the Rest of India team, is similarly in a tight place because he would most likely be engaged with the Irani Cup till October 5, leaving little time before the Bangladesh T20Is begin.
Jaiswal is expected to play the opening match, while Asian Games gold winner Gaikwad could join the squad for the next two games. Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube are both ready to return to the national side.
The lineup is set to include Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Tushar Deshpande, and Ravi Bishnoi, all of whom appeared in the Zimbabwe series. Harshit Rana, who was in Zimbabwe as a backup pacer, may also get an opportunity.
(PTI inputs)
