After a tough loss to New Zealand in the ODI series, India is shifting its attention to an upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh. The opening encounter between these two Asian rivals is set for Sunday at Mirpur Stadium. Fans are hopeful for a strong start, especially with key veterans Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli returning from their break. This transition comes as India begins focusing more heavily on ODIs in preparation for hosting the World Cup next year.
After a disappointing ODI series loss to New Zealand, team India is gearing up for a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. The first match between the two Asian teams will be played on Sunday at Mirpur Stadium. Fans expect Men in blue to start all as senior players captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli return to the squad after a break. India’s focus is slowly shifting toward the ODIs with the World Cup lined up next year at home.
Talking to reporters, former Indian cricketer Maninder Singh emphasized that holding the vice-captaincy doesn't guarantee KL Rahul a permanent spot in the lineup; performance is what truly matters. Having struggled to put runs on the board at the top of the order, the opener is now under heavy pressure. Maninder specifically pointed back to Rahul's underwhelming performances during the ODIs against Zimbabwe.
According to Maninder, Rahul's tendency to play too safely in the early overs negatively impacted India, even during their T20 World Cup campaign. The former all-rounder feels that since the Zimbabwe series, the 30-year-old has retreated into a shell and must break out of it to remind everyone of his actual talent and class.
Maninder observed that Rahul isn't even utilizing the first 5-6 overs effectively in the ODI format, suggesting that a more aggressive, fearless mindset is essential for both T20s and ODIs. Turning to other players, Maninder praised Shubman Gill's standout form in recent ODIs and expressed his surprise that the young talent was left out of the squad for the Bangladesh series.