The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, with several key changes. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav has received his maiden call-up to the national side, while mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy makes a comeback after an impressive domestic season. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Rishabh Pant—all Test regulars—were given a break, as expected. Sanju Samson was selected as the starting keeper-batter of choice. Jitesh Sharma of Vidarbha was chosen as the backup keeper.

Mayank Yadav, who has made waves with his speed and accuracy in domestic cricket, is expected to bolster India’s pace attack in the absence of some senior bowlers. Yadav’s selection highlights India’s continued focus on building a strong core of young and promising talent in the game's shortest format.

Varun Chakaravarthy's inclusion marks a return for the spinner who was once hailed as a key player for India's T20 aspirations. Chakaravarthy last played for India in 2022 and has been working on his fitness and form since then. His impressive outings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season paved the way for his return.

After missing the Sri Lanka T20Is, dynamic Sunirsers Hyderabad players Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy are now back in the team. Not selected for the three T201 in Sri Lanka was Abhishek, who hit a century on his debut against Zimbabwe.  Interestingly, Sanju Samson will probably open the batting with him because he is the only designated opener among the 15 players in the squad.

Squad Breakdown:

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

India will be looking to test the depth of their squad and develop young talents ahead of upcoming global tournaments. The T20I series against Bangladesh offers an exciting opportunity for fresh faces to cement their spots and for returning players like Chakaravarthy to re-establish their place in the national team.