India and Bangladesh are set to face off in the second match of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This clash promises to be a showdown between the two-time Champions Trophy winners and the unpredictable challengers.

The 2025 edition of the tournament will run from February 19 to March 9, featuring the top eight men’s national teams. Group A comprises India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Australia, England, Afghanistan, and South Africa.

India vs Bangladesh: Preview

Rains in Dubai are infrequent, but when they hit, they can cause widespread disruption—as witnessed last year when the entire nation ground to a halt. Just recently, on Tuesday (February 18), the city experienced another bout of rain, leaving the weather overcast throughout the day. Although another downpour seems unlikely to halt proceedings, the prevailing conditions may challenge India’s Champions Trophy plans, especially with the team banking on a spin-heavy attack for their opener against Bangladesh on Thursday (February 20).

Middle overs in ODIs often appear inconsequential, yet history proves otherwise—Mahela Jayawardene’s century during an ODI World Cup final came exactly in that period, though that’s not what that match is remembered for. Typically, the overs between 11 and 40 are seen as a lull between the initial excitement and the final onslaught. India, however, intends to flip that perception. In their most recent ODI series, their batters managed brisk scoring without undue risk, while the bowlers repeatedly forced errors. This approach wasn’t just preparation for the Champions Trophy; it was about finding ways to thrive even without their talisman Jasprit Bumrah, whose brilliance comes at a physical cost his body is currently shouldering.

Bangladesh could pose a stiffer spin challenge than England, especially with many of their batters fresh from a high-scoring Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season. Concerns over spin-friendly home pitches appear to have prompted more balanced squad development. Yet, a concern for Bangladesh lies in their lack of recent ODI match practice—their last outing in the format came in December 2024, ending in a 3-0 defeat to a West Indies side absent from this tournament. Their most recent encounters with India were also forgettable, conceding 285 runs in just over 34 Test overs and nearly 300 in a T20I.

Forecasts for the next day remain generally favorable, though clouds could linger. Team composition, particularly with Bumrah missing, may be scrutinized. Still, Rohit Sharma’s tactical nous is hard to overlook. His track record—most notably leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title with a spin-inclusive squad—speaks volumes. With Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Varun Chakaravarthy available, India’s options are versatile, especially since all matches will be staged at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS), where persistent rain is uncommon.

Opting for multiple spinners isn’t as risky as it seems for this short, 15-match, eight-team event. Spin’s influence tends to grow as temperatures rise—a trend evident in the ILT20, where early dominance by pacers gave way to spinners later in the tournament. However, Rohit downplayed the narrative of India fielding five spinners. “We have two spinners; the other three are all-rounders,” he clarified. “Jadeja, Axar, and Washi add depth with both bat and ball. Other teams might rely on pace-bowling all-rounders—we’re playing to our strengths.”

Experts believe Dubai’s conditions could favor spin as the tournament progresses. “Warmer weather tends to dry out pitches, making them more spin-friendly,” noted Hemang Badani, head coach of ILT20 champions Dubai Capitals. Bangladesh, too, is expected to lean on spin, potentially fielding Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, and Nasum Ahmed. Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto hinted at a balanced approach. “We now have a good mix of pace and spin. Don’t be surprised if we play with multiple spinners,” he said.

Beyond team strategies, Dubai’s batting dynamics could be pivotal. History favors chasing sides at DICS: during the 2021 T20 World Cup, 12 of 13 matches in Dubai went to teams batting second. The ILT20 saw a similar pattern—11 of 15 matches were won by the chasing side. Even in the 2021 IPL’s second leg, teams batting second triumphed in nine out of 13 games. ODIs reflect the trend as well: nine of the 13 matches at DICS have been won by teams chasing, with first-innings scores averaging just 181 and a par total hovering around 210.

Despite this data, Rohit remained pragmatic. “Most of those results are from T20s; ODIs are different,” he emphasized. “We’ll decide what’s best after discussing with Gautam (Gambhir) and the team. Every opponent has unique strengths.”

It’s worth noting that many of the referenced matches involved associate teams, potentially skewing trends against full-member sides. Dubai’s three-phase playing conditions—hot afternoons, challenging twilight periods, and cooler evenings—can be unpredictable. Yet, as always, when the captains gather for the toss, the hope will be simple: may fortune favor the right call.

India vs Bangladesh: Head-to-head

• Matches Played: 41
• Won by India: 32
• Won by Bangladesh: 8
• Tied: 0
• No Result: 1
• First-ever Fixture: October 27, 1988
• Most-recent Fixture: October 19, 2023

India vs Bangladesh: Pitch Report

All of India’s Champions Trophy fixtures will be played in Dubai, a venue rarely used for ODIs featuring top-ranked teams. The most recent 50-over match at this ground occurred in March 2024 between Scotland and Canada.

Out of 58 ODIs hosted here, only four have seen scores exceeding 300. The forecast suggests mostly clear skies with minimal rain chances, though some cloud cover is anticipated on match day. As is often the case at this stadium, chasing is expected to be the preferred strategy.

India vs Bangladesh: Recent Form

India: WWWLL(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh: LLLLW

India vs Bangladesh: Team News and Predicted XI

India – Team News

Rishabh Pant faced a minor injury scare during training after taking a knock to the knee, but KL Rahul remains India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Mohammed Shami, though returning to full fitness, is still regaining his top pace.

Arshdeep Singh is expected to partner as the second seamer, edging out Harshit Rana despite Rana’s impressive showing against England. Rohit Sharma is likely to rely on a trio of left-arm spinners, while Shami’s experience could see him start to fine-tune his form ahead of the tournament.

India – Predicted XI

1. Rohit Sharma (c)
2. Shubman Gill
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. KL Rahul (wk)
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Axar Patel
8. Ravindra Jadejz
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Mohammed Shami
11. Arshdeep Singh

Bangladesh – Team News

Bangladesh enters the tournament without some key veterans, including Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das, though seasoned campaigners Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah continue to be vital.

Opener Tanzid Hasan brings momentum after finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the BPL. With an emerging pool of fast bowlers, Bangladesh is better prepared for pace-friendly conditions. All eyes will be on the fiery Nahid Rana as he challenges India’s formidable top order.

Bangladesh – Predicted XI

1. Tanzid Hasan
2. Soumya Sarkar
3. Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)
4. Mehidy Hasan Miraz
5. Mushfiqur Rahim
6. Mahmudullah
7. Jaker Ali / Towhid Hridoy
8. Nasum Ahmed
9. Taskin Ahmed
10. Nahid Rana
11. Tanzim Sakib/ Mustafizur Rahman

India vs Bangladesh: Players To Watch Out For

Shreyas Iyer (India)

As Shreyas Iyer launched Mark Wood’s short ball into the stands, he paused to celebrate with a double fist pump. It wasn’t about a milestone or sealing a win—this was something more personal.

Early in his career, Iyer was tagged as vulnerable to high-paced short deliveries. Facing a 145 kph bouncer, he not only handled it but dispatched it for six. For him, it’s validation; for others, it’s a testament to his progress—both equally valuable.

Nahid Rana (Bangladesh)

Nahid Rana’s breakout moment came in Pakistan, where he demonstrated his true potential. Although he won’t begin his Champions Trophy campaign there, he’ll draw confidence from the havoc he caused on two sluggish Rawalpindi tracks just three months ago.

His subsequent tour of India didn’t yield the same success, but this tournament presents a fresh opportunity with even higher stakes. Bangladesh, unfamiliar with the raw pace he offers, will be keen to capitalize on his unique firepower.

India vs Bangladesh: Match Prediction

Scenario 1

• Toss: India win the toss and opt to bowl first
• Powerplay Score: 50-70
• Bangladesh Total: 250-270
• Match Result: India win the match

Scenario 2

• Toss: Bangladesh win the toss and opt to bowl first
• Powerplay Score: 70-90
• India Total: 290-310
• Match Result: Bangladesh win the match

When and Where To Watch India vs Bangladesh LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Group B encounter between India and Bangladesh is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19, at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. The match will commence at 2:30 PM IST, with the toss set for 2:00 PM. Fans can watch the live broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.

Read More: Dubai’s Champions Trophy 2025 Pitches: Boon or Bane for India’s Spin-Heavy Attack?

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