Team India are set to return to T20I cricket on Sunday as they face Bangladesh in a three-match series. Earlier this week, India achieved a convincing 2-0 series victory over the visitors, with their performance in Kanpur receiving praise from fans and experts alike.
As the focus shifts to the T20 format, attention will be on some of India's prominent players who did not participate in the Test matches.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav has primarily played T20I cricket in recent months, while star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is also making his return to international competition in this series.
Hardik was recently spotted practicing with a red ball, leading to speculation about his return to the format. However, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel noted that the unavailability of a white ball forced Hardik to bowl with the red one.
Hardik participated in India's training session ahead of the first T20I in Gwalior, where he reportedly had an intense workout under the supervision of bowling coach Morne Morkel. According to an Indian Express report, Morkel expressed dissatisfaction with Hardik's tendency to bowl close to the stumps and provided ongoing feedback after each delivery.
Morkel discussed Hardik's release point with him, and the all-rounder took the advice positively before the coach moved on to work with other bowlers during the net session.
Like Suryakumar, Hardik is mainly part of the T20I setup. Although he has been a regular in the ODI squad, he was not included in the team for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in August. There have been suggestions that Hardik was advised to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to demonstrate his fitness for the ODI format.
His last ODI appearance was during last year's World Cup held in India, where he suffered an injury while fielding off his own bowling in a group stage match against Bangladesh, which ultimately ruled him out of the tournament.
Following the T20Is against Bangladesh, India will return to Test cricket later this month, hosting New Zealand for a three-match series in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai.
