Before Thursday night’s Australia-Bangladesh match, Antigua had been one of the lowest-scoring venues in this T20 World Cup, with an average first innings score below 100 and a winning first innings average of 122 for five.
However, India’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour, noted that the team has encountered pitches with even lower averages. For example, the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, New York, had a corresponding average of 108.
When is India vs Australia?
Monday, 24 June from 8 pm onwards.
Read More: From Promise to Pro: Tracing the Journeys of India’s U-17 World Cup Squad
India vs Bangladesh: Match Preview
The Indian team has consistently remained unfazed by the varying conditions and ground dimensions, which have significantly differed 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 on Saturday.
More concerning than the ground conditions is the Indian team’s opening combination. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not met expectations in the tournament, with Kohli scoring only 28 runs in four games. Much more was anticipated from the star batter, and his underwhelming performance has been disappointing.
India hopes 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 frequently troubled them in global competitions.
Another concern is Shivam Dube’s ability to handle pressure at this level. His six-hitting prowess has not been evident, and the Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings batter faces competition from Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are waiting in the dugout. Time might be running out for him.
India still fancies their chances, and a win on Saturday morning will bring them one step closer to securing a semifinal berth.
Bangladesh will be fighting to stay alive in the T20 World Cup 2024 as they face India in their second Super Eight clash in Antigua. The turnaround time from their loss to Australia on Thursday night is short, but at least they haven’t had to hop islands, unlike India, who arrived hours after their convincing victory over Afghanistan in Barbados.
Twice in two games now, India has relied on Suryakumar Yadav to guide them out of a tough spot. There is growing pressure, even if not entirely from within the team, on Shivam Dube to perform well as the spin enforcer. Facing a quality spin attack on Saturday will likely be another significant test for him.
Bangladesh has long depended on their array of left-arm spinners to perform on slow and low wickets. Now, they have a more varied attack with two key players in Mustafizur Rahman and legspinner Rishad Hossain. However, they will readily admit that their batters haven’t provided enough support for their bowlers so far in the tournament.
This task becomes even more challenging against India, who will be fielding Jasprit Bumrah and an in-form Arshdeep Singh. India also benefits from having a fully-fit Hardik Pandya, which gives them the flexibility to play either a third seamer or a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav. Bangladesh’s batters will have their work cut out for them.
Beyond the tactical match-ups, this rivalry has gained an extra edge in recent years. It all began at the 2015 World Cup with a controversial no-ball call that angered Bangladesh. Then came the Mustafizur-Dhoni incident. The drama continued into the 2016 T20 World Cup in Bengaluru and peaked during the Nidahas Trophy in 2018.
Since then, every encounter has carried significant weight, and despite players claiming to be insulated from the “noise,” the passionate fans on both sides have ensured this rivalry has gained immense significance.
Saturday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will be no different.
India vs Bangladesh: Form Guide
India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Bangladesh LWWLW
India vs Bangladesh: Pitch Conditions
A keen contest is anticipated. Despite India’s 12-1 head-to-head record against Bangladesh not fully reflecting the intensity of their World Cup encounters, their matches have often been closely contested. The last time they faced off in the T20 World Cup in Australia, India narrowly escaped a tight situation thanks to a swift direct hit by KL Rahul, which dismissed the dangerous Litton Das. On a pitch expected to favor spin, India might be considered the favorites, but Bangladesh will certainly not be pushovers.
India vs Bangladesh: Head-to-head
India leads Bangladesh 12-1 in T20 World Cups. Despite being run close in several encounters, India has never lost to Bangladesh in their four T20 World Cup matches.
India vs Bangladesh: Team News
India
Once again, finger spinners are expected to excel in these conditions. India has confirmed that there are no plans to change the opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, indicating that the team composition is likely to remain the same. While Shivam Dube’s performance might be under scrutiny, he is expected to continue in the lineup, especially considering Bangladesh’s reliance on spinners.
India held an optional practice session on Friday morning. There is little reason to alter their current combination, which includes three spinners. Mohammed Siraj is likely to remain on the bench. Rohit Sharma has historically dominated against Bangladesh. Taskin Ahmed and Shakib Al Hasan have never dismissed him in T20Is, and he has been particularly effective against Mustafizur Rahman. Rohit could be crucial for providing India with a strong start.
India’s Predicted XI:
- Rohit Sharma (Capt.)
- Virat Kohli
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Shivam Dube
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
Bangladesh
Bangladesh entered the Super 8 with high confidence, but the loss against Australia may have deflated their spirits somewhat. Despite this setback, they aim to play with freedom against their powerful Asian neighbors. The middle-order batters and bowlers have been instrumental in their success so far, compensating for the top-order’s lackluster performance.
Najmul Hossain’s team must win this game to advance beyond the Super 8. Tanzid Hasan’s form is a concern, but the only alternative, Soumya Sarkar, has also been struggling with his form. Tanzim Hasan Shakib has been highly effective against right-handed batters in this World Cup, taking eight wickets in 73 balls. He could pose a significant threat to the out-of-form Indian openers.
Bangladesh’s Predicted XI:
- Tanzid Hasan
- Litton Das (wk)
- Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt)
- Towhid Hridoy
- Shakib Al Hasan
- Mahmudullah
- Mahedi Hasan
- Rishad Hossain
- Taskin Ahmed
- Tanzim Hasan
- Mustafizur Rahman
India vs Bangladesh: Players Under Spotlight
India- Ravindra Jadeja
So far in this World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja has bowled a maximum of three overs in a single game, which was against Afghanistan, where he took his only wicket of the tournament. He hasn’t been required to bowl in one of India’s four completed games. With the bat, he’s had two outings, scoring 0 and 7. While there’s no immediate threat to his place in the team, Jadeja will be aiming for a complete performance as the tournament progresses into its crucial stages.
Bangladesh- Tanzid Hasan
Since his unbeaten 58 helped Bangladesh avoid a 3-0 whitewash against the USA last month, Tanzid Hasan has struggled, reaching double digits only twice in six innings and recording ducks in his two most recent matches. These top-order issues have often forced Bangladesh into a wicket-preservation mode during the death overs, limiting their potential for high scores. Can Tanzid rise to the challenge against a formidable Indian attack?
Where To Watch The T20 World Cup Live in India? Streaming Details
Cricket enthusiasts can catch the live action of the T20 World Cup 2024 matches via free live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on mobile devices in India. Additionally, the T20 WC cricket matches will be broadcasted live on Star Sports and DD Sports TV channels across the country.
