India Prepares for T20I Clash Against Bangladesh in Gwalior

Gwalior [India]: As India readies itself for the opening T20I match against Bangladesh in Gwalior, cricket enthusiasts are particularly focused on rising star Abhishek Sharma, who has emerged as a noteworthy young talent in the sport this year. The T20I series is scheduled to encompass three matches, with subsequent games taking place in Delhi and Hyderabad on September 9 and 12, respectively.

Heading into the series, the 24-year-old’s stellar performance in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a major talking point. Abhishek Sharma accumulated 484 runs over 16 matches, maintaining an average of 32.26. His powerful batting display included three half-centuries, with a personal best score of 75 not out, and he achieved an exceptional strike rate of 204.21, setting a record for hitting 42 sixes—the most by an Indian player in a single IPL season.

Following his impressive IPL stint, Sharma was selected for the tour of Zimbabwe, where he participated in a five-match T20I series post-IPL in July. Despite accumulating only 124 runs across four innings, his explosive batting prowess was on full display during the second T20I, in which he scored 100 runs off 47 balls, featuring seven fours and eight sixes, achieving a strike rate exceeding 212.

This year, Sharma has become a pivotal player in India’s T20I lineup, amassing 608 runs in 21 T20I outings, with an average of 32 and a strike rate of 197.40. His record includes a century and three half-centuries, further defining his standing with the highest T20 strike rate worldwide, surpassing notable figures like West Indies‘ Andre Russell.

Particularly against spin, Sharma has demonstrated remarkable skill, maintaining a strike rate of 205.5 since 2023, the highest among Indian batsmen. He is closely followed by Rajat Patidar, who has a strike rate of 184.8, and Sharma leads his compatriots in hitting a record 52 sixes against spin during this period.

In a recent development, Shivam Dube has been ruled out of the series due to a back injury, with Tilak Varma named as his replacement. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced, “All-rounder Shivam Dube is ruled out of the three-match T20I series owing to a back injury. The Senior Selection Committee has named Tilak Varma as Shivam’s replacement. Tilak will link up with the squad in Gwalior on Sunday morning.”

Prior to this T20I series, Team India had secured a 2-0 victory against Bangladesh in a preceding two-match Test series. The Indian squad for the T20I series includes key players such as Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya, amongst others, underscoring the team’s depth and talent.