As the Indian women’s cricket team prepares to face Bangladesh in the second T20 International in New Delhi on Wednesday, the narrative is clear: India is a powerhouse, and Bangladesh seems to be struggling to keep pace. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team showcases a blend of youth and experience that leaves little doubt about their superiority on home soil.

In their opening match in Gwalior, India delivered a commanding performance, winning by seven wickets despite missing key players like Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Jasprit Bumrah. This victory highlighted the extraordinary depth of India’s white-ball cricket talent, with Sanju Samson making a significant statement. Since his debut in 2015, Samson has had an inconsistent run with the national team, often finding himself in and out of the lineup. However, Suryakumar’s confidence in him as the series starter reflects the potential that the wicketkeeper-batter possesses.

In the Gwalior match, Samson, usually a middle-order batsman, took on the opener’s role with flair, scoring 29 runs off just 19 balls. His explosive style showcased his ability to capitalize on the powerplay, although he couldn’t convert his promising start into a bigger score. Similarly, his opening partner Abhishek Sharma displayed impressive power before being run out. With the first-choice players like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal rested, both Samson and Sharma are eager to prove their worth and secure their places in the team.

The stakes are high for Samson, especially with Pant sidelined. A series of reliable performances as both an opener and wicketkeeper could position him as a strong contender for future selections in white-ball formats, even with the T20 World Cup still two years away. Given the success of their first game, India is likely to stick with the same lineup, which has shown promise.

Debutants Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy also made their mark in the opening match. Yadav impressed with his explosive pace, while Reddy distinguished himself as a rare seam-bowling all-rounder in Indian cricket. The pace attack led by Arshdeep Singh, complemented by the returning Varun Chakaravarthy, adds further depth to India’s bowling lineup. Chakaravarthy’s successful comeback after a three-year absence is a significant boost for the team, alongside Washington Sundar, who is competing for the spin all-rounder role left vacant by Ravindra Jadeja.

On the other hand, Bangladesh faces a formidable challenge. Despite having a seasoned team that performed well in the recent World Cup, they have struggled to adapt to the T20 format. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto acknowledged this issue after their defeat in Gwalior, stating, “I wouldn’t say we played badly. We are a better team than this. We haven’t done well in this format for a long time, but I don’t believe we are such a bad team.” However, their batting ineffectiveness has been a recurring problem, making it difficult to compete against India’s well-organized bowling attack.

Experienced players like Mahmuddullah and Liton Das need to step up and contribute significantly if Bangladesh hopes to bounce back in the series. Their bowlers have the potential to be exciting, but they will require substantial runs on the board to challenge India’s strong squad effectively.

As the two teams prepare for this high-stakes match, the atmosphere in New Delhi is expected to be electric, with a near-sold-out crowd anticipated. India will look to build on their momentum, while Bangladesh must regroup quickly to avoid falling further behind in the series. With the skills and mentality that India brings to the table, it will be a test of Bangladesh’s resilience and adaptability as they seek to match their powerful opponents.

Squads:

India:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav

Bangladesh:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah, Litton Kumer Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan