WATCH: First look at 22-year-old fast bowling sensation representing India

New Delhi: Mayank Yadav, the rising star in Indian cricket known for his lightning-fast bowling, is set to undergo form and fitness tests ahead of the upcoming three-match T20 series between India and Bangladesh, kicking off in Gwalior on Monday. Alongside Mayank, other young and promising players will also have the chance to make their mark on the field. Mayank made headlines for consistently bowling at speeds exceeding 150 kMPH during the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year, but unfortunately had to exit the tournament prematurely due to a rib strain.

Mayank was a surprise pick for the series after a prolonged injury battle. The youngster impressed everyone with his express pace in IPL 2024 and bowled the fastest delivery of 156.7 Kmph in that year’s tournament.

Ahead of the T20I series against Bangladesh, the Indian Cricket Team’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, visited Maa Pitambara Temple in Datia on Friday and offered prayers on the second day of Shardiya Navratri.

WATCH VIDEO HERE:

Bring out the speed guns, the pace battery has arrived! ⚡️⚡️#TeamIndia | #INDvBAN | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/FM4Sv5E4s3

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 4, 2024

Apart from Mayank, these players can also make their debut:

Generally, any player has to prove his fitness in domestic cricket to make a place in the national team, but 22-year-old Mayank has been given a place in the Indian team due to his special skills. His form and fitness will be tested in the series against Bangladesh. Now it remains to be seen whether he can bowl at the international level with the same accuracy and control with which he bowled in the IPL. Apart from Mayank, Delhi fast bowler Harshit Rana and all-rounder Nitish Kumar can also get a chance to debut for India in this series against Bangladesh.

Abhishek Sharma has a great opportunity:

In view of the Test series against New Zealand, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammad Siraj and Axar Patel have been rested from the T20 series against Bangladesh. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya are two big names in the team. Apart from them, Shivam Dubey and Arshdeep Singh, who were part of the T20 World Cup winning team, have also been selected in the team for this series. Due to the senior players being given rest, players like Abhishek Sharma have this great opportunity to show their skills. Abhishek had scored a century against Zimbabwe. Sanju Samson can open the innings with him against Bangladesh.

Riyan Parag could not show an IPL-like form:

Riyan Parag has got a chance to play six T20 matches for India after July but he could not show IPL-like form in them. Spinner Varun Chakraborty will also make a comeback from this series. Ravi Bishnoi is the other specialist spinner in the team. Jitesh Sharma, who was selected as the reserve wicketkeeper, has not played any match after the IPL in June. He has failed to show his flair in the nine T20 International matches he has got a chance to play so far. After these three matches against Bangladesh, the Indian team will play four T20 International matches in South Africa next month. India’s senior players will not be available for that series as well because then the Indian team will be on a tour of Australia to play a Test series.

This will happen in Gwalior after 14 years:

As far as Bangladesh is concerned, it will have to get used to playing without its star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib announced his retirement from Test and T20 international cricket last month. India defeated Bangladesh in both the matches in the Test series but most of its T20 team players were not part of that team. This match will be played at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium, which will also mark the return of international cricket to Gwalior after 14 years. The last international match in this city was played in the form of ODI in 2010. In this match played against South Africa, Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in the world to score a double century in an ODI.

Squads:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dubey, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav.

Bangladesh: Nazmul Hussain Shanto (captain), Tanjid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah, Liton Kumar Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hussain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanjim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan.