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With the series already secured, Team India is considering experimenting with their playing XI in the final T20I against Bangladesh. Several players, including fast bowler Harshit Rana, batter Tilak Varma, spinner Ravi Bishnoi, and wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, have not yet featured in the series.
India's assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has indicated that these new faces could get an opportunity to play in the final match. He highlighted the depth in the squad and the desire to give more players international experience. Ten Doeschate mentioned that players like Harshit Rana and Tilak Varma are keen to play, while Jitesh Sharma is also an option. He stated that the plan was to win the series first and then try out some new players in the final game.
Harshit Rana to make India debut in 3rd T20I against Bangladesh
“There is nice depth in the squad. A lot of our guys have IPL experience. We try to expose as many guys as we can to international cricket. So someone like Harshit Rana - we are keen to give him a game. Tilak came into the squad a bit later (to replace the injured Shivam Dube). Jitish is there as well. There are options. The plan was to win the series and then try a few new faces for the last game," Ryan said in the pre-match press conference.
The final T20I against Bangladesh also presents an opportunity for the struggling openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, to regain their form.
Ryan ten Doeschate emphasized the aggressive approach to cricket that the team management is aiming for.
“The Test match in Kanpur was a great example. We’re trying to push the limits of what we can do as a team. If you look at the T20Is, Sanju got a quick start in the first game in Gwalior. It would have been easy for him to knock it around and get a fifty. But he was trying to push for the boundaries. The messaging has been pretty consistent,” he explained.
Ryan also expressed his desire to build a strong core of players for the Indian cricket team. He emphasized the importance of evaluating each player's performance ahead of upcoming tournaments like the 50-over Champions Trophy, T20 Asia Cup, and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
“We want to build a strong core of players. With the 50-over Champions Trophy (early 2025), T20 Asia Cup (late 2025) and the 2026 T20 World Cup coming up, we want to know where everyone stands in Indian cricket,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's tour of India has been a disappointing one. India has dominated the series, winning both T20Is and the preceding Test series. A consolation win for Bangladesh in the final match seems unlikely.
Ryan emphasised the importance of maintaining a positive mental state for the cricketers.
"We're trying to push the limits of what we can do as a team. We've obviously got the quality to do it, and then it's about giving the players the belief that they're in a safe space, to know that if it's not going right, it's okay," he further stated.
"It's just about giving them the freedom that they can go out there and do it and they're certainly good enough to do it. So, it's just the mindset of looking to score and looking to hit every single ball in the 120 balls," he concluded.
