What BHR’s Playing XI Could Look Like Against BHU in the 1st T20I of Bahrain tour of Bhutan 2025

Cricket fixtures don’t normally come out of nowhere; however, they can blow through your tidy plans in a single over. The natural grass pitch at Gelephu offers the same level of uncertainty: an initial seam that tests technique and then a softer pitch that encourages patience. However, for Bahrain, the major question here is structural: do you create a structure to be able to withstand the impact of the new ball, or do you create one to dominate the middle when it has been broken down? Opening with Asif Ali and Prashant Kurup (wkt), and a middle that may have too much reliance on Fiaz Ahmed (batter, captain, all-rounder), appears to mean that Bahrain are selecting a team based on being in control as opposed to creating a showpiece.

Early powerplay: survive, don’t overreach

Asif Ali and Prashant Kurup need to be disciplined for the first six overs to keep up with Gelephu’s seam assistance, which can punish aggressive driving and poor footwork. The main role of the opening batsmen is to make runs by rotating the strike and leaving balls outside of the off stump. Kurup, as a wicket-keeper, provides an extra layer of strategy. Having a solid keeper behind the stumps gives the skipper some space to pick and choose his bowling changes. If they lose one or two wickets in the first few overs, their plans for the middle overs will have to be on reaction rather than on planning.

Middle overs: the firewall or the pressure point

Bahrain’s middle-order batting unit, which includes two Fiaz Ahmed entries (the second being a player) along with Naveena Shetty, has the look of an almost solid but fragile-looking middle order on paper. The next 10-12 overs are when Bahrain’s combination of medium pace bowlers and slow bowlers will need to convert each one of their tight line bowling efforts into chances for taking wickets. Naveena Shetty is often overlooked in terms of his value, as he is the glue that holds together the transition from the consolidation phases of the game to the acceleration phases of the game.

All-round balance: flexibility with risk

The number of multi-utility players in the team for Bahrain – Junaid Aziz (leg break googly), Fiaz Ahmed (left arm medium pacer), and Asif Javed (right arm medium) provides Bahrain with some strategic possibilities on the playing surface, which can transition from swing to spin-based conditions. This can limit the ability of Bhutan to find a consistent flow of runs. However, the potential disadvantage may lie in having too many part-time workers who may not provide a specialist at the right time to capitalize on a wicket opportunity. It will be crucial for Junaid to establish his leg spin as a force once the pitch becomes grippy and he has variations and drift to cause chaos during the middle overs.

Bowling bench: control over knockout ability

Ali Dawood and two slow left-arm orthodox bowlers (Abdul Majid and Muhammad Salman) provide an option for Bahrain to play very defensively with their back line of bowlers. Two orthodox left-arm bowlers should be able to restrict runs in a slow pitch environment; however, this approach may become predictable if both are used together. Bahrain will want to get early wickets from the new ball bowler Ali Dawood to give themselves some breathing room, as it appears that the bowling attack will need to rely on discipline, and not speed or surprise.

Key Takeaway

Bahrain’s XI prizes stability; in T20s, stability must be converted into tempo, or it becomes stagnation.

FAQs

What should Bahrain prioritise in the powerplay?

Leave and rotate; minimise dot-ball pressure while protecting wickets.

Why is spin crucial at Gelephu?

The pitch tends to grip later, making variation and control decisive in overs 7–15.

How can Bhutan exploit Bahrain’s setup?

Attack early against the openers to force the middle order into improvisation.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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