The path to the Asia Cup final looks clearer for India as they prepare to face Bangladesh in a crucial Super Four match this Wednesday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both teams are heading into this fixture with momentum, having secured impressive wins in their initial Super Four games.
Bangladesh managed a narrow four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Saturday while chasing 169, but India truly dominated the following evening, crushing Pakistan by six wickets in a remarkable display of skill.
On paper, India holds a significant edge in this encounter. Much like their superior record against Pakistan in T20 Internationals, India boasts an almost unchallenged dominance over Bangladesh, with an impressive 16 wins out of 17 head-to-head matches. Bangladesh’s solitary victory against India in this format came in 2019 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Throughout this eight-nation continental tournament, Suryakumar Yadav’s squad has yet to face a truly daunting challenge. Even in Sunday’s intense clash against Pakistan, a 72-run partnership between Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub briefly caused some concern in the Indian dugout. However, India’s bowlers skillfully fought back, restricting Pakistan to 171 for five. Notably, Shivam Dube delivered crucial breakthroughs against Farhan and Saim, highlighting his dedication to improving his bowling.
Reflecting on the win against Pakistan, Captain Suryakumar remarked, “Dube’s spell was arguably the game-changer.” He added, “He’s been incredibly diligent, working tirelessly on his bowling during practice sessions, always aiming to deliver at least two overs. To see him complete his full quota of four overs and perform so well, executing his clear plans, was truly satisfying.”
After the bowlers set the stage, India’s opening duo, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, unleashed a ferocious assault on the Pakistani attack, forging a magnificent 105-run partnership. While Gill’s batting style blends classic strokes with intelligent aggression, Abhishek’s approach is characterized by relentless, powerful hitting.
To stand a chance against India’s formidable batting lineup, Bangladesh will heavily rely on the brilliance of Mustafizur Rahman. Despite not replicating his initial IPL success with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, the left-arm pacer’s contributions to his national team are undeniable. In recent matches against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, the 30-year-old delivered consecutive three-wicket hauls, showcasing his critical form.
On the batting front, key contributions will be essential from captain Litton Das, Saif Hassan, and Towhid Hridoy. Against Sri Lanka, Hassan’s crucial 59-run second-wicket partnership with Litton, followed by a 44-run stand with Hridoy, were vital in maintaining Bangladesh’s scoring rate during a challenging chase.
Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons, brimming with confidence on the eve of the match, declared, “Every team possesses the capability to defeat India. The outcome is decided on the day, irrespective of India’s past achievements. Our strategy will be to exploit any vulnerabilities in India’s game; that’s our path to victory.”
Historically, apart from the 2007 ODI World Cup, Bangladesh has rarely managed to pull off a major upset against India on significant stages. The question remains: will this Wednesday’s clash finally break that pattern?
Team India (Squad): Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
Team Bangladesh (Squad): Litton Das (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Jaker Ali (Wicketkeeper), Nurul Hasan (Wicketkeeper), Parvez Hossain Emon (Wicketkeeper), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Saif Hassan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed.
The match is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. IST.