India geared up for Bangladesh clash, Samson may earn debut
As the high-stakes Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup heats up, the Indian squad faces another crucial test as they take on neighborhood rivals Bangladesh on Saturday. Coming off an emphatic win over Afghanistan, the Men in Blue will look to maintain their momentum in the race for the semifinals.
However, with Bangladesh proving to be a tricky opposition, captain Rohit Sharma may look to tinker with a successful winning combination. According to reports, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has strongly staked his claim for a starting berth after excellent domestic performances.
Samson has amassed over 300 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike rate of 150 and seems ideally suited to the demands of the shortest format. His impressive strike rotation and power-hitting could prove valuable on the sluggish Caribbean pitches. With places up for grabs, Samson may replace the out-of-form Shivam Dube in the must-win clash.
Another interesting call would be Virat Kohli opening the innings once again alongside the skipper. Kohli showed positive signs in the last game and pairing him with Rohit at the top could help address India's slow start issues. All-rounder Axar Patel too seems set for a promotion to the #6 slot given his recent exploits with both bat and ball.
The spin-bowling duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja as well as the lethal Jasprit Bumrah are expected to retain their places. However, the rest of the lineup remains unofficial at this stage. One thing is for sure – with a semifinal berth on the line, Rohit and Co. will fancy their chances against the spirited Bangladeshis on Saturday.
