🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: IND vs BD, Match 16, A1 vs B2 - Super 4 @Dubai🏏

🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: India vs Bangladesh, Match 16, A1 vs B2 - Super 4 at Dubai on 24/09/2025 at 8 PM IST🏏

India go in as strong favourites against upbeat Bangladesh

Bangladesh will hope to create an upset after beating Sri Lanka in their first Super Four game

Can Bangladesh challenge India?

Even though they haven't been close games, the tension during the two India-Pakistan matches has made players do and say things they otherwise wouldn't. One of them is based on facts but lacks professional humility. After beating Pakistan once again, India captain Suryakumar Yadav invoked a dominant head-to-head in recent years in order to call for an end to the term "rivalry" for these contests.

There is good reason to believe Suryakumar, or any India captain, would not have said what can be interpreted as arrogant had it not been Pakistan and the current relations between the two countries. For where is a rivalry for India in recent times? Since the start of 2024, India have won 32 and lost three matches of T20I cricket.

The sheer talent, now coupled with the appropriate intent, has turned India into perhaps the most formidable T20I side ever assembled. Add to it the slowness of the Dubai pitches, and India are able to experiment with just one frontline quick and getting him to bowl three overs in the powerplay.

Team news:

India:

Injuries/Availability: Axar Patel, warming up before the Pakistan match with a neck patch, ended up bowling just an over and his selection looked a last-minute call, given the balance he lends. But he'd have a few more days to recover from the head blow in Abu Dhabi, and is likely to feature.

Tactics & matchups: The same XI is likely to take the field. Ryan ten Doeschate, India's assistant coach, indicated that India are likely to play their best side until they are assured of a spot in the final. That means Jasprit Bumrah, who was India's most expensive bowler against Pakistan, plays. Sanju Samson's numbers as a non-opener for India don't add up well (23 matches, 408 runs, average of 20.40 and a SR of 121.8) and Bangladesh would be looking to target him with spin in the middle overs.

Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

Bangladesh:

Injuries/Availability: Litton Das sustained a back strain during training and a call on him is expected to be taken closer to match start.

Tactics & matchups: Bangladesh might want to play Tanzim Sakib, who enjoys a decent record against India, and Shoriful Islam is likely to make way. Bangladesh have been among the better sides with the new ball in this tournament, conceding at just 6.79 per over in powerplay. While they haven't used Taskin Ahmed much in the first six overs, he has been a standout when given a chance and could challenge India's red-hot opening pair. Since the start of 2023, only Richard Ngarava and Arshdeep Singh have picked more powerplay wickets among Full Member teams than Taskin's 28.

Probable XI: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das(w/c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan/Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam/Tanzim Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman

In the spotlight: Sanju Samson and Mustafizur Rahman

Another experiment that India are able to work on is Sanju Samson in the middle order. Clearly, the team management seems to have decided that Samson is too good a player to be sitting out, so they are trying to create a place for him in the side now that the top order is packed with Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar and Tilak Varma. The one innings he has played there is no sample size to draw any conclusions, but there were signs he wasn't quite at home when starting against an older ball. So eyes will be on him whenever he gets a chance to bat.

One of the challenges for Samson and the rest of the middle order will be the canny bowling of Mustafizur Rahman, who becomes double dangerous on slower pitches. He showed that against Sri Lanka with figures of 4-0-20-3. An encore could give Bangladesh a strong chance against India.

Pitch and conditions

As expected, the pitches have been slow, making it difficult to score quickly in the middle overs. Expect more of the same in the extreme heat of Dubai.

Stats and trivia

• With the wicket of Fakhar Zaman, Hardik Pandya went past Yuzvendra Chahal to become India's second-highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket, now only three behind Arshdeep Singh's 100.
• Mustafizur is tied with Shakib Al Hasan as the most prolific wicket-taker for Bangladesh. When he does go past Shakib, he will become only the fourth bowler in T20Is to reach 150 wickets.

Who said what?

With the way Shubman and Abhishek are going at the top and you've got your captain batting at three and the way Tilak played, we're really looking for a No.5. And we believe Sanju is the best man for that job and we've got no doubt that he'll figure out how to play that role in the future. - Ryan ten Doeschate, India's assistant coach.

Every team has the ability to beat India. The game is played on the day. It's not what India has done before. It's what happens on Wednesday. It's what happens during that three and a half hour period. - Phil Simmons, Bangladesh head coach

IND vs BAN Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played 17

IND Won 16

BAN Won 01

No Result 0

Tied 0

First-ever Fixture June 06, 2009 (IND Won)

Most-recent Fixture October 12, 2024 (IND Won)

IND vs BAN Probable Top Performers

Probable Best Batter: Suryakumar Yadav

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav could be the key batter in this clash. While he has shown glimpses of form against Pakistan, he has not been consistent in the other matches. The right-hander will aim to assert his dominance, play his best cricket, and guide the Men in Blue closer to a place in the summit clash, which will be played on September 28.

Probable Best Bowler: Mustafizur Rahman

Bangladesh speedster Mustafizur Rahman could be the key bowler in this clash. He has taken seven wickets in the four matches he has played, maintaining an impressive average of 15. As a pacer who bowls in crucial phases of the game, he has the ability to make an impact and help The Tigers gain an advantage in this important match.

Today's Match Prediction: India to win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

Looking forward to this match. Hopefully we will qualify to the finals today only.