The first T20I between India and Bangladesh will be played in Delhi. The two teams have met each other eight times in T20Is. India have beaten Bangladesh in all the T20Is so far. In India, these two teams have met only once, in the nail-biting encounter of 2016 T20I World Cup in Bengaluru that the hosts won by one run. 

Ground Details and Team Combination 

The current surface at the Feroz Shah Kotla assists the batsmen and bowlers equally. In the 2018 IPL, the average first innings score in at Kotla was as high as 180, while during the 2019 IPL, the pitch was more conducive to bowlers and the average lowered to 156. Overall since 2018, the batsmen have scored here at an average of 26.8 runs per wicket, which is in the bottom four across any ground in IPL. While a wicket falls in every 19.2 balls, the average run-rate here during the time-frame is high at 8.4. 

As the average run-rate in the past two years is on the higher side, the ground is decent for batting. So ideally, pack your side with at least five solid top-order batsmen. 

On the bowling front, spinners have been marginally more successful when compared to the pacers. Out of the 154 wickets taken by bowlers in the IPL since the start of 2018, 85 have been returned by pacers at a strike rate of 22 as compared to 69 by spinners, who have struck at a better strike-rate of 19.9. 

Among pacers, the left-arm pacers have been the most successful breed here since the start of 2018, having picked up 17 of the 154 wickets to fall striking every 17.5 balls. However, their economy is on the higher side at 9.3. Among spinners, the leg-spinners have dominated with 47 wickets at 16.1 balls per wicket in the time-frame. While India have the experienced Yuzvendra Chahal and the rookie Rahul Chahar in their armoury, Bangladesh, have a squad filled with left-arm orthodox spinners who have taken 11 wickets at 24 balls per wicket and a great economy of 6.1 at this venue. A combination of five frontline batsmen, one bowling all-rounder, backed up with two spinners and three pacers could be the way to go for your team. 

Captain Selection 

A player known to play big innings, Rohit Sharma holds the world-record of most T20I centuries - 4. He is the country’s second-highest run-scorer since the start of 2018 with 796 runs in 27 outings at an average of 33.2 that includes five half-centuries and two centuries. What should further convince you to make the captain of our side is his record in T20Is against Bangladesh. He has racked up 356 runs in eight innings – most by any Indian player - with four half-centuries and striking at 147.5. He averages an impressive 44.5 against them!

X-Factors
Out first X-factor is Krunal Pandya. Krunal in his young career has already become an integral part of India’s T20 squad. Capable with both bat and ball, he was the man of the series in India’s victory over West Indies a few months back. Being a left-hander, we might see him being promoted up the order to counter-attack Bangladesh’s left-arm spinners. His left-arm orthodox spin will be more than handy on a dry wicket at Delhi. Krunal is also among the best fielders in the team and has already inflicted eight dismissals in 16 matches. 

Our second X factor is Mustafizur Rahman. Rahman is Bangladesh’s second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is. The only Bangladesh bowler in the squad with experience in Indian conditions by virtue of the IPL, Rahman will be the spearhead of the Bangladesh attack. Though his economy in on the higher side since 2018, he has picked up a wicket once every 14.4 balls in the process. With his variations, he is the dark-horse no one wants to miss in their fantasy team. 

Our third X-factor is the Indian opener, Shikhar Dhawan. Given his experience of playing at Kotla while representing Delhi Capitals in IPL, Dhawan can be the X-factor for India and your fantasy team. Since 2018, he has scored 328 runs in eight IPL games he has played at Kotla with a notable average of 46.9 and a strike-rate of 142. Additionally, he is India’s highest run-scorer in T20I since 2018, a credential enough to earn him a place in your fantasy eleven. 

Weather 

The weather in Delhi is predominately smoggy that might affect some players. Though a partial cloud cover is expected on the day, neither rain nor dew should affect the game. 

Suggested Fantasy Team 

Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Rohit Sharma ©, Shikhar Dhawan (vc), KL Rahul, Soumya Sarkar, Krunal Pandya, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Khaleel Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mustafizur Rahman