The ODI World Cup has reached a thrilling juncture, and the clash between India and Bangladesh promises to be a compelling encounter. India’s flawless performance in the tournament thus far has positioned them as strong contenders, and the match against Bangladesh holds the potential for intense competition.
India’s Dominance vs. Bangladesh’s Rising Form
Historically, India has maintained its dominance over Bangladesh, winning 31 out of their 40 ODI face-offs. However, one cannot overlook Bangladesh’s evolving form, which is evident in their recent performances. Over the last four matches against India, Bangladesh has secured victories in three, challenging the conventional narrative of ‘upsets.’
One particularly remarkable encounter was in the Asia Cup 2023 held in September. Bangladesh secured a thrilling victory by a mere six runs. Shakib Al Hasan was the standout performer, earning the Player of the Match award. Shubman Gill’s splendid 121-run innings for India and Axar Patel’s quickfire 42 were not enough to seal the win. The absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s disappointing duck tilted the scales in Bangladesh’s favor. Suryakumar Yadav, who had his opportunity in the playing XI, could only muster 26 runs.
World Cup History: India’s Upper Hand
On the global stage of the World Cup, India has faced Bangladesh in four encounters, emerging victorious in three. The lone loss dates back to the sensational match in 2007, marking a historic triumph for Bangladesh over India. Subsequent World Cup meetings have seen India winning by significant margins—87 runs in 2011, 109 runs in 2015, and 28 runs in 2019.
The Lineups
The anticipation for this clash is intensified by the lineups of both teams:
India Final XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj.
Bangladesh Final XI: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Nasum Ahmed, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahmudullah, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
Key Highlights:
- Bangladesh’s skipper Shakib-Al-Hasan, who missed their game against New Zealand, is not playing in this match.
- In his absence, Najmul Hossain Shanto has taken over as captain.
- Bangladesh won the toss & elected to bat first.
- India boasts a 3-1 record against Bangladesh in World Cups.
- In the last four ODIs between the teams, Bangladesh has emerged victorious thrice.
- Bangladesh scored 50 runs in 56 balls.
- Tanzid Hasan achieved his maiden ODI half-century in just 41 balls.
- Kuldeep Yadav dismissed well-set batter Tanzid Hasan (51) via an LBW in the 14.4 over. Skipper Shanto walked in.
- Bangladesh lost their skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto to R Jadeja via an LBW in the 20th over.
- LITTON DAS marked his 12th ODI half-century, taking 62 balls.
- After Kuldeep and Jadeja, it was Mohammed Siraj who provided a crucial breakthrough for India by dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3) in the 24.1 over.
- Litton Das lost his wicket to Ravindra Jadeja in the 27.4 over when he attempted to take on the spin but ended up offering a straightforward catch to long-off.
- Bangladesh reached a score of 150 runs in 31.1 overs (187 balls).
The India vs. Bangladesh match is a clash of cricketing titans, with India looking to maintain its perfect record and Bangladesh seeking to rise above a series of defeats. The encounter promises high-stakes drama and showcases the competitive spirit of the ODI World Cup.
