Nidahas Trophy 2018, India vs Bangladesh: India's probable playing XI for 2nd T20I

Having lost the opening encounter against Sri Lanka, India's inexperienced team will look to recover in the second game against Bangladesh in the Nidahas Twenty20 Trophy, on Thursday.

Sri Lanka, who have performed miserably against India the past six months, surprised fans with their win over India, which came on the back of Kusal Perera’s 37-ball 66. In the absence of key players like Virat Kohli, the young and relatively inexperienced Indian playing XI faltered. Here’s the predicted playing XI for the second T20I.

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Openers – Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan

Rohit Sharma, who is serving as the captain in absence of Virat Kohli, has been receiving much flak from critics for his dismal run in South Africa, which continued in Sri Lanka. He scored a duck. When in form, Rohit has the potential to destroy the opponent single-handedly. The skipper will be expected to lead from the front in the second T20I.

However, Rohit’s opening partner Shikhar Dhawan is probably in the best form of his life. After performing exceedingly well in South Africa, Dhawan delivered in Sri Lanka too. The right-hander scored a fine 90 off only 49 deliveries.

Middle-order – Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, and Rishabh Pant

Pant needs to capitalise on the opportunities presented to him

Comeback man Suresh Raina was expected to replicate his performance from South Africa in Sri Lanka – that in which he scored a brisk 43. But the batsman faltered in the opening game, managing only a single run. However, he will be given a longer rope in the second game, unless Sharma decides to play KL Rahul instead.

As for Manish Pandey, he scored 38 off 35 deliveries in the previous game and has also been largely inconsistent, delivering on and off. But with no better-experienced player in the squad, his spot in the second game is a given.

Meanwhile, in absence of MS Dhoni, this is the best time to test Rishabh Pant’s potential. Given that Pant has proved his mettle on several occasions in domestic cricket, but has got very few opportunities on the international level, this could be a good time to give him an extended rope, after he scored only 23 runs in the first game.

Wicketkeeper and all-rounders – Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar and Washington Sundar

Karthik is one of the most experienced players in the side

Veteran keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has been more than decent with the gloves and missed very few chances behind the stumps. With the bat, he has not got the opportunity to face quite a few deliveries, as was seen in both South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, in the all-rounders' department, Tamil Nadu’s Vijay Shankar, on the back of his decent performance in the opening game, is likely to be retained in the playing XI. In the two overs that he bowled, Shankar leaked only15 runs. With the willow, he didn’t get to face any deliveries.

The other obvious choice for an all-rounder is the young Washington Sundar, who returned with figures of 2/28 in the opening game but did not get to bat.

Spinner – Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal is the leader of the spin attack and cannot be dropped from the playing XI

Chahal’s 2/37 from the opening game is not his best of figures, but the spinner has been one of the main reasons for India’s limited-overs success in the recent past. With his main partner Kuldeep Yadav rested for the series, Chahal is the leader of the spin attack and cannot be dropped from the playing XI, unless Axar Patel is included as an all-rounder in place of either Shankar or Sundar.

Pacers - Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Siraj

Siraj might be drafted in for Shardul Thakur

In the fast-bowling department, Shardul Thakur, who went for 27 runs in a single over of the previous game, may be replaced by Mohammed Siraj, who has not been given many opportunities at the international level.

As for Unadkat, he too wasn’t in the best of his form in the opening game and bowled a very expensive penultimate over. But his experience is likely to help him retain his place.