Team India is currently engaged in a crucial five-match Test series in England under the leadership of Shubman Gill. However, with the white-ball series against Bangladesh scheduled for August, significant changes are anticipated in the team composition and captaincy. The India tour of Bangladesh will feature three ODIs and as many T20 internationals, marking a busy period in the cricket calendar. There is speculation that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both having stepped away from Test cricket, could make a comeback in the ODI squad. Rohit Sharma, in particular, is being considered as a potential captain for the ODI matches. On the other hand, the fitness of the current T20 captain, Suryakumar Yadav, remains uncertain as he recently underwent hernia surgery. If Suryakumar is unable to participate, it is being rumored that Akshar Patel may take over the T20 captaincy during the Bangladesh tour.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, who has been leading the Test side, might be rested for this white-ball assignment to manage his workload following the demanding England series. The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the schedule months ago, with the ODI series slated to begin on August 17 in Mirpur and conclude on August 23 in Chittagong, followed by the T20 series from August 26 to August 31. Earlier, the India-Bangladesh series faced uncertainty due to tense political relations, but so far, no official directives from the government have suggested postponing or canceling the tour.
This series is especially significant as India has not won an ODI series in Bangladesh since 2014, and the return of seasoned players like Kohli and Rohit could be pivotal in ending this long-standing drought. Furthermore, the upcoming T20 series will mark India’s first-ever T20 series in Bangladesh. With India having recently swept Bangladesh 3-0 in a home T20 series, expectations are high as the team aims to continue its dominance in the shorter formats. Overall, the upcoming tour promises to bring fresh leadership decisions and exciting cricket for fans to watch closely.
