T20 World Cup 2024, BAN vs IND 47th Match, Super Eights, Group 1 Match Preview

Big picture – India reaps the benefits of Hardik’s balancing act

Twice in two matches now, India have relied on Suryakumar Yadav to pull them out of the mess. There is growing pressure, even if it is not entirely from the team, for Shivam Dube to come good as a spin keeper. And against a quality spin attack, Saturday will be another tough test.

For a long time, Bangladesh relied on a bunch of left-arm spinners to get the job done on slow and low wickets. They now have a versatile attack, with two trump cards in Mustafizur Rahman and legspinner Rishad Hossain. However, they will be the first to admit that the batsmen have not given their wizards enough of a cushion so far in the tournament.

That task could be tougher against India as they will be up against the in-form Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. India also get the pleasure of having a fully fit Hardik Pandya who gives them the flexibility needed to play third seamer or third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav. So the Bangladeshi batsmen have their work cut out for them.

Apart from the match-ups, there is always the added edge this rivalry has gained in recent times. It all started at the 2015 World Cup with an uncontroversial off-call that lifted the whole of Bangladesh. Then Mustafizur-Dhoni happened. The drama spilled over into the 2016 T20 World Cup in Bengaluru and peaked during the Nidahas Trophy in 2018.

Since then, every meeting has had something riding on it, and as much as the players may say they are caught up in the “noise”, the passionate fans on both sides have ensured that this rivalry is very important.

Saturday at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will be no different.

Form guide

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

In the scene – Jadeja and Tanzid

Many Ravindra Jadeja he has bowled one match so far this World Cup in three overs against Afghanistan – when he took his only wicket of the tournament so far – and was not needed with the ball at all in one of the four matches India have completed. He also has two hits, 0 and 7 in his two outings. Although there is no imminent threat in his position, Jadeja will love one more complete performance at the business end of the tournament.

Since his unbeaten 58 to help Bangladesh to a 3-0 win against the USA late last month, Tanzid Hasan he’s hit double digits just twice in six innings, and has made ducks in his last two innings. Bangladesh’s top-order bowling often leads them into wicket-keeping mode to father overs, which reduces their ability to score big. Can he withstand a gun attack?

Team news – Soumya Sarkar option for Bangladesh

India had an optional session on Friday morning. There is little reason to adjust their combination, which includes three spinners. Mohammed Siraj is likely to stay on the bench.

India: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Arshdeepprit Singhs, 11 Jam Jadeja .

Tanzid Hasan’s form is worrying, but Bangladesh’s only batting option is Soumya Sarkar, whose form has also been unpromising.

Bangladesh: 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Tanzim Mu Hasan11, 1 Rahman

Stats and trivia – focus on Rohit vs Mustafizur

Quotes

“I don’t think anyone talks too much about Bumrah’s bowling. He has a sense of what to do and what not to do.”
India allrounder Axar Patel reveals that there is little discussion by the management about their fast bowler

“It is said that everyone should play freely. But they try to play according to their plans. Why is it not possible? As I said at the beginning, I do not know this. But if we play like this. then it will be difficult for the bowlers to protect it.”
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto he can’t quite figure out why they are fighting the bat