With T20 series in pocket, India is expected to make changes to their lineup for final match
Hyderabad, Oct 10: After a commanding display in the first two matches, Team India will be aiming for a clean sweep in the T20I series against Bangladesh as the two sides face off in the third and final match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday.
India secured their 20th T20I victory of 2024 with an emphatic 86-run win in the second match, sealing the series. The hero of the match was fast-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, whose outstanding all-round performance—blasting 74 runs off 34 balls and claiming 2 wickets for 23 runs—played a key role in the victory, overshadowing more familiar names like Hardik Pandya.
With the series already in hand, India is expected to make changes to their lineup for the final match. The team may choose to rotate the squad and give opportunities to players who have yet to feature in the series.
The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is known for producing high-scoring matches in the T20 format. Its large outfield offers plenty of scoring opportunities for batsmen, though the dry surface could also assist spinners and medium-pacers. Teams winning the toss are likely to opt for bowling first, as chasing teams have had better success here, winning more often than teams defending a total.
This will be Hyderabad’s first T20I since India’s thrilling last-ball victory over Australia in 2022, where they chased down 187 runs. The venue has seen a rise in first-innings scores during this year’s IPL, with the average increasing from 174.4 in 2023 to 204.6. The results in these matches have been fairly balanced, with seven victories for chasing teams and six for teams batting first.
No specific bowling style has dominated on this pitch recently, making it a batsman-friendly venue. With the potential for another high-scoring game, particularly if India bats first, spectators can expect plenty of runs. Although thunderstorms have been forecast in the days leading up to the match, conditions on Saturday evening should be warm and humid without rain interruptions.
As the series concludes, both teams will be eager to put on a final show in what promises to be an exciting end to a thrilling T20I series.With India looking to cap off a dominant series and Bangladesh eager to salvage some pride, the final T20I in Hyderabad is set to be a fitting finale. A clean sweep would reinforce India’s status as a formidable force in T20 cricket. (Agencies)