🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: S8 - Match 47: India vs Bangladesh @8:00 PM IST🏏

🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: S8 - Match 47: India vs Bangladesh @8:00 PM IST🏏

India will take on Bangladesh in the Super Eights Match 7 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024. The game is set to take place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, on today (IST). 

India comes into this match with momentum, having defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs in their previous outing. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer for India.

 On the other hand, Bangladesh faced a setback in their last game, losing to Australia by 28 runs via the DLS method. Rishad Hossain was the top  performer for Bangladesh. 

Historically, India has dominated Bangladesh in T20Is, winning the majority of their 13 encounters. 

The pattern suggests India will likely continue their dominance. India's batters have generally outperformed Bangladesh, while Bangladesh's bowlers have been their main contributors.

The last meeting between these teams was in the 1st Semi-Final of the Asian Games Men's T20I, 2023, where India's Tilak Varma scored the highest scorer. 

The Indian team has steadfastly remained indifferent to the varying conditions and ground dimensions, which have differed significantly from venue to venue in this World Cup. 

They are prepared for the challenges posed by the Antigua pitch and outfield in their second Super 8 game against Bangladesh today.

More than the ground realities, the Indian team would be concerned about their opening combination. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not performed up to expectations in the tournament, with the latter scoring only 28 runs in four games. 

Much more was anticipated from the star batter, and his underwhelming performance has been disappointing. India will hope Kohli will return to form soon.

 After his half-century against Ireland in the first game, skipper Rohit Sharma has also fallen short of expectations. A strong start from these two star openers is crucial for India to stay on track against an opponent that has, more often than not, troubled them in global competitions.

[Tag and Logo Credit to Wildestdreams]

Key Players to Watch

Arshdeep Singh (IND)

India's Arshdeep Singh, a left-arm medium-fast bowler, has been in stellar form, taking 12 wickets in his last five matches.

Hardik Pandya (IND)

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, known for his swashbuckling approach and right-arm medium-fast bowling, has scored 39 runs at an average of 19.5 in his recent three matches and has also taken seven wickets for India.

Mustafizur Rahman (BAN)

Mustafizur Rahman, the left-arm fast-medium bowler from Bangladesh, has taken seven wickets in his last five matches.

Axar Patel (IND)

Axar Patel, another all-rounder from India, has scored 32 runs in his recent five matches. Additionally, his slow left-arm orthodox bowling has yielded five wickets.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib (BAN)

The right-arm medium bowler from Bangladesh, Tanzim Hasan Sakib has taken nine wickets in his last five matches, boasting an impressive average of 7.8.

Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, a left-handed top-order batter, has 100 runs in his recent five matches. His slow left-arm orthodox bowling has also contributed two wickets for Bangladesh.

What to expect: A keen contest is on the cards. India and Bangladesh have a history of producing close matches in the World Cup although their head-to-head record of 12-1 does not exactly justify the intensity of the contests between the sides. The last time they played in the T20 World Cup, in Australia, India wriggled out of a tight situation, thanks to a flash of alacrity from KL Rahul, whose direct hit from a distance sent a dangerous Litton Das back. On a pitch that is expected to turn, India should start favourites but Bangladesh will not be pushovers.

Head to head: India 12 - 1 Bangladesh. Despite being run close, India have never lost to Bangladesh in the four encounters between the two teams in T20 World Cups.

Twice in two games now, India have relied on Suryakumar Yadav to steer them out of a wobble. There's growing pressure, even if not entirely from within the team, on Shivam Dube to come good as the spin enforcer. And against a quality spin attack, Saturday will possibly be another stern test.

For long, Bangladesh have relied on their plethora of left-arm spinners to do the job on slow and low wickets. Now they have an attack with variety, and two trump cards in Mustafizur Rahman and the legspinner Rishad Hossain. Yet, they will be the first to admit the batters haven't given their magicians enough of a cushion so far in the tournament.

The task may get that much tougher against India as they'll come up against Jasprit Bumrah and an in-form Arshdeep Singh. India are also deriving the joys of having a fully-fit Hardik Pandya giving them the flexibility needed to play either a third seamer or a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav. So Bangladesh's batters have their task cut out.

Beyond the match-ups, there's always the extra edge this rivalry has gained in recent times. It all began at the 2015 World Cup with a debatable no-ball call that had all of Bangladesh up in arms. Then Mustafizur-Dhoni happened. The drama spilled over into the 2016 T20 World Cup in Bengaluru and peaked during the Nidahas Trophy in 2018.

India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)

Bangladesh LWWLW

In the spotlight - Jadeja and Tanzid

The most Ravindra Jadeja has bowled in a single game so far at this World Cup is three overs against Afghanistan - when he took his only wicket of the tournament so far - and he wasn't needed with the ball altogether in one of India's four completed games. And he's batted twice, for scores of 0 and 7 in his two outings. While there's no imminent threat to his place, Jadeja will like one complete performance heading into the business end of the tournament.

Since he struck an unbeaten 58 to help Bangladesh prevent a 3-0 whitewash against USA late last month, Tanzid Hasan has got into double digits just twice in six innings, and made ducks in his two most recent innings. Bangladesh's top-order wobbles have often led them into wicket-preservation mode going into the death overs, reducing their potential for big totals. Can he come good against a gun attack?

Team Watch

India: Once again, finger spinners are expected to excel in the conditions. India have clarified that there is no plan to change the opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli which means there is unlikely to be any change to the team composition. Shivam Dube's performance may come under scrutiny but he is likely to be persisted with, given that Bangladesh have quite a few spinners.

Tactics & Matchups: Rohit Sharma has dominated against Bangladesh in the past. While Taskin Ahmed and Shakib Al Hasan have never managed to dismiss him in T20Is, the Indian opener has been lethal against Mustafizur Rahman. He could be the key for a strong start for India.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

Bangladesh: They were high on confidence after progressing to the Super 8 but the loss against Australia would have deflated them a bit. Nevertheless, Bangladesh would like to play with a lot of freedom when they take on their powerful Asian neighbours. Bangladesh's middle-order batters and bowlers have carried them to this promising position despite the top-order's none too impressive showing. Najmul Hossain's team will have to win this game if they want to progress beyond the Super 8.

Tactics & Matchups: Tanzim Hasan Shakib has been extremely effective against the right-handed batters in this World Cup, picking eight wickets in 73 balls. He could pose a serious threat to the out-of-form Indian openers.

Probable XI: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain, Litton Kumar Das, Shakib al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Shakib.

Stats and trivia - Rohit vs Mustafizur in focus 

• Rohit Sharma has been dismissed nine times by left-arm quicks in all T20s in 2024. All his three dismissals at this T20 World Cup have come against this variety of bowler. Bangladesh could look to exploit that weakness through Mustafizur, but Rohit has a good record against him: 122 runs in 72 balls in all T20s at a strike rate of 169.44, while being dismissed three times.
• Shakib isText one wicket away from becoming the first player to pick up 50 in T20 World Cups. He also needs just two more to become the second player, after Tim Southee, to reach 150 T20I wickets.
• Despite playing just 10 games at the T20 World Cup, Arshdeep Singh is already India's joint-third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament behind R Ashwin and Jadeja and alongside Hardik, with 20 wickets at a strike rate of 10.8.

Quotes

"I don't think anyone talks much about Bumrah's bowling. He has an idea of what to do and what not to do."

India allrounder Axar Patel reveals that there is little management chatter about their premier fast bowler

"It is said to everyone that they should play with freedom. But they are trying to play according to their own plans. Why is it not happening? As I said earlier, I don't know this personally. But if we play like this then it's difficult for the bowlers to defend it."

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto isn't quite able to work out why they're struggling with the bat

Did you know?

India have been without a 50+ opening stand now for ten consecutive innings in T20Is

Tanzid Hasan has had three different opening partners in five innings in this tournament so far and the longest Bangladesh's opening pair has survived is two overs

Litton Das's only 50+ score in 18 innings in T20 World Cups came when he played India last time in Adelaide