India vs Bangladesh 3rd T20I: Can India Complete the Clean Sweep?

 India looks to complete a 3-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh in the 3rd T20I. Will the visitors fight back or face another crushing defeat?

Following a comprehensive victory in the opening two T20I games, India is prepared to face Bangladesh in the last match of their three-match T20I series. 

India has already won the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead and will now look to end the series on a high note with a clean sweep against Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on October 12, 2024.

With such an emphatic lead, India may consider a squad rotation, giving chances to a few of the less active players. Although fielding a largely second-string side, India has looked and been way better than Bangladesh again proving why they are currently the T20 cricket Champions.

Match Details: IND vs BAN, 3rd T20I

• Date: October 12, 2024 (Saturday)
• Time: 7:00 PM IST / 01:30 PM GMT
• Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

Match Preview: India vs Bangladesh 3rd T20I

A stellar performance has characterized India’s performance for the present series. The host team beat up the visiting Bangladesh team in T20Is one and two without giving room to any doubt of their efficiency. India’s second team has also been on the high, with Suryakumar Yadav’s team in active play and a few others resting. The top order batters have fired together, the bowling has been on point that made Bangladesh look out of sorts.

On the contrary, the same cannot be said of the Bangladesh cricketers, who have been out of rhythm with both bat and ball. The batting unit has not managed to score enough runs while the bowling unit has been overpowered by the batting unit of India. For Bangladesh, however, this last match is a matter of saving face. It will seek to prevent a whitewash and at least depart from India with a victory.

What to Expect in the 3rd T20I

The third T20, if it happens, is not a determining factor as the series has already been won by India, so India may opt to make changes in their playing XI and give chances to the players on the bench along with some stars of tomorrow. There is a good possibility that players like Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Riyan Parag will have a chance to perform on the grand stage. Northing will change in terms of the squad for India even if there are changes, they will have an equally strong team leaving no chances for Bangladesh to bounce back.

The team led by Najmul Hossain Shanto will have to completely regroup in order to stand a chance against India. Their best players such as Liton Das and Mahmudullah will have to perform if they don’t want to get a 3-0 loss.

Weather Report

Forecast for Hyderabad suggests that there will be mainly clear skies with a very small likelihood of passing clouds accompanied by little showers in the night. The forecast maximum temperature is in the region of 30 degrees Celsius with humidity settled at 70%. There will be winds blowing at speeds of approximately 14 km/h which will make conditions comfy for both teams while playing.

Pitch Report

As stated previously, the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium will be a batsman’s delight. With a level surface and even bounce and shorter boundaries, be ready for a run fest. Bat offers good timing to the batsman, and thanks to the fast outfield, they are able to score freely. Batting first will be the choice of the teams winning the toss in order to score a massive total.

Head-to-Head Record: India Dominates

India has completely dominated Bangladesh in T20I cricket. Out of the 16 matches played between the two teams, India has won 15, with Bangladesh managing only one victory.

• Total Matches Played: 16
• India Wins: 15
• Bangladesh Wins: 1

This overwhelming head-to-head record further strengthens India’s position going into the final match.

Predicted XIs

India (Probable XI):

1. Sanju Samson (wk)
2. Abhishek Sharma
3. Suryakumar Yadav (c)
4. Nitish Kumar Reddy
5. Riyan Parag
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Rinku Singh
8. Ravi Bishnoi
9. Varun Chakravarthy
10. Arshdeep Singh
11. Mayank Yadav

Bangladesh (Probable XI):

1. Liton Das (wk)
2. Parvez Hossain Emon
3. Towhid Hridoy
4. Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)
5. Mahmudullah
6. Jaker Ali
7. Mehidy Hasan Miraz
8. Taskin Ahmed
9. Rishad Hossain
10. Mustafizur Rahman
11. Tanzid Hasan

Key Players to Watch

• Suryakumar Yadav (India): The Indian captain has been in excellent form and will once again look to lead from the front with the bat.
• Sanju Samson (India): Likely to be included in the final game, Samson will have a point to prove and showcase his explosive batting skills.
• Liton Das (Bangladesh): Bangladesh’s most reliable batter, Liton will need to anchor the innings and help his team post a competitive total.
• Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh): The pace spearhead will need to find early breakthroughs to unsettle the Indian batting lineup.

Who Will Win?

Considering India’s recent form and the sheer depth in their squad, it’s hard to see Bangladesh pulling off an upset. Even with potential changes in their lineup, India are clear favorites to win the third T20I and complete a 3-0 series clean sweep.

For Bangladesh, this match represents a final chance to regain some pride after a poor showing in the first two matches. If they can improve their batting and bowling performances, they might be able to put up a stronger fight. However, it looks likely that India will dominate once again.