India’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh in August 2025, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is across Mirpur and Chattogram, is more than just another bilateral series. It’s a chance for India’s young guns and fringe players to stake their claim in a transitioning team, especially after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket and their likely limited roles in T20Is. With Shubman Gill leading in Tests and potentially in ODIs, alongside Suryakumar Yadav or Hardik Pandya in T20Is, India’s squad depth is a major asset. The recent Champions Trophy and India A’s warm-up matches in England have showcased a mix of emerging stars and seasoned campaigners fighting for a spot in the Playing XI. Who among India’s bench strength could break into the lineup for Bangladesh? Let’s explore the top contenders and what they bring to the table.
The Context: India’s Transition and Bangladesh’s Challenge
India’s 2025 campaign is in full swing, with a 3-0 ODI sweep against England and a strong Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh (February 20, 2025) setting the tone. The Men in Blue, under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching, are blending youth with experience, especially in white-ball formats. Bangladesh, fresh off a 2-1 ODI series win over India in 2022, are no pushovers at home. Their spinners, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and pacers like Taskin Ahmed thrive in Mirpur’s slow, turning pitches and Chattogram’s balanced tracks. With dew and humidity likely to influence evening games, India’s bench players will need to adapt to secure a spot.
The Champions Trophy showed India’s depth, with KL Rahul preferred as wicketkeeper over Rishabh Pant, prompting Michael Vaughan to marvel, “The strength of India’s 50-over team is @RishabhPant17 isn’t even picked!”. This depth means competition is fierce, and the Bangladesh tour offers a golden opportunity for fringe players to shine. Based on recent form, IPL 2025 performances, and India A’s warm-ups, here are the top candidates for India’s Playing XI.
Top Contenders for the Playing XI
1. Nitish Kumar Reddy: The All-Round Dynamo
- Role: All-rounder (right-hand batter, right-arm medium pace)
- Credentials: Reddy’s meteoric rise includes a Test century (114 at the MCG, 2024) and a T20I debut knock of 74 against Bangladesh in 2024. His IPL 2024 Emerging Player award (303 runs, 142.92 strike rate) with Sunrisers Hyderabad highlighted his dual threat. In India A’s England warm-ups, he scored 67 and took 2 wickets against Yorkshire, showing his value in seaming conditions.
- Case for Inclusion: Reddy’s ability to bat in the top six and bowl 8–10 overs makes him a perfect fit for ODIs and T20Is. His medium-pace swing could exploit Bangladesh’s humid conditions, while his aggressive batting suits chasing on dew-affected pitches. Despite a dip in IPL 2025 (143 runs, strike rate 105), his Test form and all-around skills make him a strong contender to replace Hardik Pandya if rested.
- Challenge: Consistency in T20s and refining his bowling variations for shorter formats. His recent injury scare before the England tour needs monitoring.
- Likely Role: Middle-order batter (No. 5/6), fourth pacer.
2. Sai Sudharsan: The Elegant Run-Machine
- Role: Left-hand top-order batter
- Credentials: Sudharsan’s First-Class record (2,129 runs, average 44.35) and IPL 2025 form (412 runs, strike rate 138) with Gujarat Titans underline his class. His unbeaten 76 in India A’s warm-up against the England Lions showcased his adaptability to swinging conditions, crucial for Bangladesh’s seaming tracks in Chattogram. His county stints with Surrey and Sussex add experience.
- Case for Inclusion: With Kohli potentially rested for ODIs, Sudharsan’s technical prowess makes him ideal for No. 3 or 4. His ability to anchor and accelerate, seen in his IPL opening partnership with Gill, could stabilize India’s batting against Bangladesh’s spinners. Aakash Chopra included him as a potential pick for England’s Tests, signaling his rising stock.
- Challenge: Proving himself in international pressure situations, especially against Bangladesh’s wily spinners like Shakib Al Hasan. He needs to outshine KL Rahul, who’s cemented as the first-choice keeper-batter.
- Likely Role: Top-order batter (No. 3/4).
3. Yash Dayal: The Left-Arm Swing Specialist
- Role: Left-arm pace bowler
- Credentials: Dayal’s breakout came in India A’s warm-ups, where he took 5 for 52 against Kent, exploiting seam movement. His domestic record (76 wickets in 25 First-Class matches) and IPL 2025 performances with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (12 wickets) highlight his potential. His left-arm angle adds variety, seen in his 4 wickets against Australia A in 2024.
- Case for Inclusion: Bangladesh’s pitches, especially in Mirpur, can assist seam early on, and Dayal’s swing could trouble their top order, including Najmul Hossain Shanto. With Arshdeep Singh likely to lead the pace attack, Dayal could be a third seamer in ODIs or a specialist in T20Is, especially if Prasidh Krishna is rested.
- Challenge: Limited international experience and competition from Arshdeep and Harshit Rana. He needs to control his economy rate in T20s.
- Likely Role: Third pacer in ODIs, specialist bowler in T20Is.
4. Sanju Samson: The Wicketkeeper-Batter with Flair
- Role: Wicketkeeper, right-hand batter
- Credentials: Samson’s maiden T20I century (100 off 50 balls) in the 2024 Bangladesh series sweep was a statement of intent, helping India post 297, their highest T20I total. Despite inconsistent IPL 2025 form, his 40 off 22 balls against the Chennai Super Kings showed his destructive potential. His keeping has improved, making him a viable backup to KL Rahul.
- Case for Inclusion: With Pant benched in the Champions Trophy for Rahul, Samson’s explosive batting could earn him a T20I spot, especially in dew-heavy evening games where quick runs are key. His experience against Bangladesh’s bowlers, like Mustafizur Rahman, gives him an edge.
- Challenge: Overcoming soft dismissals, as seen in earlier 2024 T20Is, and proving he can handle spin on slow pitches. Competition from Pant and Dhruv Jurel is intense.
- Likely Role: Middle-order batter, backup keeper in T20Is.
5. Harshit Rana: The Emerging Pacer
- Role: Right-arm pace bowler
- Credentials: Rana’s T20I debut in 2024 against Bangladesh saw him take crucial wickets, and his IPL 2025 haul (14 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders) cemented his reputation. His 3 wickets in India A’s warm-up against the England Lions showed his ability to hit hard lengths. His raw pace and bounce impressed Jasprit Bumrah, who mentored him.
- Case for Inclusion: Rana’s height and bounce could trouble Bangladesh’s batsmen on Chattogram’s lively pitches. As a death-over specialist in T20Is, he complements Bumrah and Arshdeep. In ODIs, he could be a third seamer if Siraj is rested post-England.
- Challenge: Controlling no-balls, a recurring issue in warm-ups, and maintaining consistency in humid conditions where the ball can skid.
- Likely Role: Third pacer in T20Is, potential ODI debutant.
6. Dhruv Jurel: The Versatile Keeper-Batter
- Role: Wicketkeeper, right-hand batter
- Credentials: Jurel’s Test debut in 2024 against England (90 in Ranchi) and his IPL 2025 performances (245 runs for Rajasthan Royals) highlight his potential. His diving catch in India A’s warm-up against Yorkshire showed his athleticism behind the stumps. His First-Class average of 39.12 adds depth.
- Case for Inclusion: If India opts for two keepers or rests Rahul, Jurel’s tidy glovework and ability to finish innings make him a T20I contender. His composure under pressure suits Bangladesh’s high-stakes chases.
- Challenge: Limited white-ball international experience and competition from Samson and Pant. He needs to prove his T20I batting flair.
- Likely Role: Backup keeper, lower-order finisher in T20Is.
Strategic Considerations for the Playing XI
India’s probable Playing XI for the Bangladesh tour will balance experience with youth, tailored to Mirpur’s spin-friendly pitches and Chattogram’s seam-assisting tracks. A likely ODI XI could be: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya/Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav. For T20Is, India might opt for: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Yash Dayal.
Key factors influencing selections include:
- Pitch Conditions: Mirpur’s slow tracks favor spinners like Kuldeep and Jadeja, but early seam movement suits Dayal and Rana. Chattogram’s bounce could benefit Krishna or Rana.
- Dew Factor: Evening T20Is may see captains opt to chase, favoring explosive batsmen like Samson and all-rounders like Reddy for quick runs.
- Workload Management: With Bumrah and Siraj coming off a grueling England series, Dayal or Rana could get chances to ease the load.
- Competition: Rahul’s role as first-choice keeper limits Pant and Jurel’s chances, but Samson’s T20I form could force a rethink.
The Bigger Picture: Building for the Future
India’s bench strength is a testament to their robust domestic system and IPL’s talent pipeline. Players like Reddy and Sudharsan, who shone in Australia and England warm-ups, are ready to step up, while pacers like Dayal and Rana add depth to an already potent attack. The Bangladesh tour is a low-pressure environment to test these players, especially with the T20 Asia Cup looming. As Gautam Gambhir noted, “KL is our No. 1 wicketkeeper, but Pant will get his chance”, suggesting rotation to nurture talent.
Bangladesh’s recent ODI wins over India (three of the last five) mean they’ll be no pushovers, especially at home. India’s bench players must seize this opportunity to prove they can handle international pressure, setting the stage for the 2026 T20 World Cup and beyond.
