"Abhishek and Riyan getting some good workout on one of the side pitches," spots Pratyush. "At a venue like this, India will need everyone to chip in with overs."
Washington Sundar: I just try to be on top of my game, no matter if I'm playing a match or not. Every practice session, I need to be at the top of my game, I need to feel that I am hitting my best rhythm. If I am not hitting my best rhythm, I'll try and see where I am lacking and try and really work on it. When I walk back home, I'll have to be at the top of my rhythm. This is something that I have been telling myself constantly. Eventually when the game happens, I am ready no matter when. With my bowling in particular, run-up and synchronization of both my arms are very important. That's something I constantly focus on. Some of the other things that probably come naturally to me and I don't really focus too much on that. But these two things keep changing especially with the fact that I play different formats every now and then. With regards to that, I really need to be on top of my game, especially with what format I am playing at that time. I am just grateful for all the opportunities that I am getting, no matter where I am thrown at, it could be powerplay, it could be middle overs, it could be death overs at times, really looking forward to put up best performances for the team.
18:18 Local Time, 12:48 GMT: "Hello from the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi," texts Pratyush Sinha. "No new caps handed out in India's team huddle, so looks like some more wait for local boy Harshit Rana."
Pitch Report | Abhinav Mukund: The second T20 international promises to be a run-fest. On this pitch, a lot of runs have been scored historically in the past. Not a big ground by any stretch of imagination. 55m and 63m square, 72m straight down the ground. This has been a fabulous pitch in the IPL. It's been 200+ consistently. It seems really hard, it's going to be a nightmare for the bowlers to bowl on this surface.
18:00 Local Time, 12:30 GMT: Hello everyone!
Preview by Pratyush Sinha :
It may be October but it's still very hot in Delhi, with temperatures hovering in the mid-thirties and feeling at least a couple of degrees higher. It's in line with how the capital city promises a little bit "extra" in everything it does, be it the metro's sprawling 350 kilometre network, which is largest in the country by 80%, or the flamboyant lifestyle of its residents.
The grandstand at the Arun Jaitley Stadium fits right into the theme, its unique part-hexagonal design going the extra mile to stand out. Coincidentally, it's named after India's head coach Gautam Gambhir, who's always asking more from his players and it was quite a sight when he stood in front of the "Gautam Gambhir Stand", this time wearing India colours, as his team geared up to seal the series in a day's time.
India put together the perfect match in Gwalior. Their lead pacer lived up to his new role, their tearaway quick bowled rockets and their comeback spinner highlighted the ridiculous depths of cricket in this country. All that before the openers chomped away 55% of the target inside the PowerPlay, laying the platform for Suryakumar Yadav's cameo and Hardik Pandya's no-look uppercut in a facile run-chase. Nitish Reddy, the other debutant, taking the team through was the perfect cherry on top.
Bangladesh face a daunting challenge against India's formidable batting lineup on one of India's fastest-scoring grounds. To level the series and set up for a memorable farewell for Mahmudullah from the format, Nazmul Hossain Shanto's team will need to bring something "extra", much like the spirit of this vibrant city. While their seven-wicket loss in the previous match left much to be desired, they can draw confidence from the fact that this is the venue where they claimed their only T20I victory over India.
When: 2nd T20I, October 9, 2024, 7:00 PM local
Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
What to expect: A run-fest. Arshdeep said he doesn't even "feel like" looking at the wicket after how it played during the IPL earlier this year.
Ever since the pitches were relaid at this venue, it's produced high-scoring matches and this one should be no different. The sub 65-metre square boundaries on either side will once again be in play. Since 2022, Delhi has hosted 12 IPL games and one T20I, and sides batting first have won 8 of those matches. The weather is set to be fair.
Team news
INDIA
There's no reason why India, stacked with players who can both bat and bowl, would want to change the combination, so that could mean a little more wait for Harshit Rana. The team had an optional afternoon practice one day out from the match, with the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya and Mayank Yadav all having the day off.
Tactics & match-ups: Sanju Samson has got a new lifeline at the top and he looked the part in Gwalior. His match-up against the offspin of Mehidy Hasan, to whom he lost his wicket in the first T20I, will again be something to keep eyes on.
Litton Das hurt his finger while trying to field in Gwalior but he has pulled up fine. Bangladesh have a choice to make between Taskin Ahmed, who played the first T20I, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Tactics & match-ups: Litton has struggled against left-arm pace since the start of 2022 and it was no different in Gwalior, with Arshdeep all set to take the new ball again. Bangladesh will need runs from him if they are to level the series.
Probable XI: Litton Das(w), Parvez Hossain Emon, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib/Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam
Did you know?
In IPL 2024, each of the five games in Delhi saw a first-inning total in excess of 200
Bangladesh have lost more T20Is than they have won this year. The W-L ratio stands at 9-10
Abhishek Sharma has a strike-rate of 217 and an average of 59 across the five T20 games he's played at this venue
What they said
Punjab Kings didn't have a match here in the IPL this season but seeing the scores at this ground I didn't feel like seeing the wicket. We will come tomorrow and assess the conditions and make plans accordingly: Arshdeep Singh
The most frustrating moment of my career was the loss to India in the 2016 T20 World Cup in Bangalore. It was a life-changing moment for me, and taught me a lot: Mahmudullah
India
Bangladesh
