ICC World Cup: India to take on Bangladesh in Pune
In the ICC Cricket World Cup, India will take on Bangladesh at the MCA Stadium in Pune today, October 19. The match will start at 2 PM IST.
A brief examination of the statistics for Indian batters reveals a compelling vulnerability to left-arm finger spin, a skill that the Bangladesh captain, the team’s talisman, has mastered. India are set to face Bangladesh in their next World Cup match, and the numbers are telling. In ODIs since 2022, Indian batters have conceded 42 wickets to left-arm spinners, as opposed to 21 and 24 wickets to leg-spinners and off-spinners, respectively.
Shakib Al Hasan would naturally be pleased with this statistic, but there’s a twist. The availability of the Bangladesh skipper for the game at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Gahunje, located just 30 kms from Pune, is under a cloud. Shakib sustained an injury to his left quadriceps, and the Bangladesh management has yet to confirm his participation in the match.
“He’s got amazing control. He’s a very experienced bowler. He bowls very well with the new ball, knows how to deceive the batsman, and is also very economical. You have to play your best against all these bowlers,” Virat Kohli said on the eve of the game. Shakib has 10 wickets in four games at an average of 18 and strike rate of 24 against India since 2022.
The Indian team have stated that they have no special strategy to counter Shakib, and whether or not he plays is inconsequential to them. “Honestly, I don’t think any conversation that we have out here, we know he is a good player. He has done well for Bangladesh, he is a champion player, he is handy, he bats for the team, he bowls well, he bowls in the powerplay, he’s a quality bowler and I think you got to give that to him. But for us really it doesn’t really,” India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said on the eve of the game.
Putting the Shakib factor aside, the Bangladesh side has discovered ways to unsettle even the strongest of Indian teams. Recent statistics reflect Bangladesh’s rise in this fixture. Bangladesh have won three of their last four ODIs against India, with their victories occurring in bilateral matches and the recent Asia Cup fixture, which was a less significant occasion.
Far from being a bilateral or dead rubber scenario, it is a live World Cup contest and this India team is in red hot form, with the batters, led by Rohit Sharma, in marauding mood and bowlers spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav operating with clockwork precision. All of which would point to India being favourites but don’t rule out a strong Bangladesh performance.
Squads:
India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin
Bangladesh Squad: Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed
