ICC World Cup 2019 Match 40, Bangladesh v India: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

India‘s undefeated run in the World Cup was halted by England at Edgbaston and the subcontinent giants will now clash with Bangladesh, their geographical neighbours who have had perhaps their best World Cup since they first played the tournament in 1999.

Bangladesh need to win against India and Pakistan to be in the run for a semifinal spot and they have the resources to unsettle the other Asian giants. Shakib Al Hasan has been enjoying a purple patch throughout the tournament and Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah have all chipped in with the runs. 

Mustafizur Rahman has been the go-to bowler at the death while captain Mashrafe Mortaza has bowled economically with the new ball. All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin and Mehidy Hasan make them a settled team.

India were jolted by the hosts England, who batted their opponents out of the match by scoring 337 runs on a flat pitch at Edgbaston. India’s spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav was taken apart by the English batsmen, something that should worry Virat Kohli. 

However, Mohammed Shami excelled in testing circumstances by picking up a five-wicket haul. Jasprit Bumrah bowled economically at the start and the death, too.

The bowlers from both sides could be put under the pump again should there be another flat pitch at Edgbaston, and if it so happens the contest could be a direct shootout between the batsmen.

Head to head

Bangladesh have only won 5 ODIs against India and lost 29. The last time the two sides met was in the Asia Cup final where India beat Bangladesh to lift the trophy. In World Cup, India have won 2 games to Bangladesh’s 1.

Key players

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): Until recently, Hasan was the leading scorer in the tournament. The all-rounder, ranked No. 1 in the world, has two centuries to his name in this tournament and has been dismissed for a score less than 50 only once.

Virat Kohli (India): With six consecutive half centuries Kohli has been India’s run machine. A hundred, however, has eluded him. He may look to get to his first ton in 2019 World Cup tomorrow.

Likely XIs

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin.

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

Prediction

India beat Bangladesh and book their place in the final four.