Three matches, three wins & a net run rate of +1.821. This is Team India, who have beaten Australia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in the World Cup 2023, and sit second on the points table as of now. Then we have Bangladesh, who have just won a solitary match against Afghanistan till now and lost the other two. They’re sixth on the points table and look a little out of sorts at the moment, with on-field and off-field controversies, taking away a major chunk of their attention. Come Thursday, given the form of both the teams, the IND vs BAN contest, should most likely go in the favour of the hosts.
But it won’t be that simple for Team India, will it? If only cricket matches were decided on the basis of a team’s form, India would have won the ICC World Cup 2019, where they just lost one league match against England, and were swept away in the semis by New Zealand. If form was the only parameter, England would have never lost to Afghanistan, and the Netherlands would not have upset South Africa the other day,
The IND vs BAN contests are scripted a little differently from just form. There are battles going on between players, on and off altercations, and a lot of emotion too, is on display. Form, in the end, has little or no role to play. The Bangladeshi Tigers, in this World Cup, are wounded and could be a dangerous prospect for Team India when they face off in Pune.
India vs Bangladesh (Head to Head)
Both India and Bangladesh have locked horns 40 times in the ODIs over the years, where the former has won on 31 occasions. Having said that, the script has changed in the last few years, where the contests are no longer one-sided, and are in fact evenly contested. Bangladesh has become our Achilles Heel, to say the least, with us losing three of the last four ODIs against them. That factor might just play on the minds of both teams.
Mahedi Hasan & Mehidy Hasan Factor
The bowling combination of Mahedi Hasan and Mehidy Hasan are in top form for the team. They contain runs and pick wickets too, and on their given day can rattle the Indian batting. In the absence of Shakib al Hasan, Bangladesh still has enough bowling options. Mahmudullah, another off-spinner as a part-timer, makes their spin attack a really potent one. And Pune’s pitch might just assist the spinners in IND vs BAN clash.
Bangladesh Has Point to Prove in Absence of Shakib Al Hasan
All but out of the India vs Bangladesh clash, Shakib Al Hasan is without any doubt the most important member of the team. But his absence might just bring out the best from the demotivated team. For a team that has no other star, every player might just put in a little extra, to go over the line.
What if Complacency Kicks In
With the Indian team, there’s always a fear, that if they’re playing well, complacency might just kick in at some point. That looked like the case when Bangladesh beat India at the last bilateral series, as well as in the recent Asia Cup. If that happens, India might just be made to look the most ordinary side. But, fingers crossed. Team India too knows the magnitude of each and every match at the World Cup.
The 2007 World Cup Debacle
With their stupendous performance at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, Bangladesh had thrashed India in their very first match, which paved the way for the latter’s early departure. Post that India has beaten them thrice in the tournament, but that performance would only give a lot of heart to the Bangladeshis, that India is not invincible.
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