India vs Bangladesh, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 warm-up: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Both India and Bangladesh will have their final warm-up matches in Cardiff on Monday, 27 May. Will that make it a particularly important match for both sides? Yes and no.

India were worryingly brittle against New Zealand in their first warm-up. They were bundled out for 179 in 39.2 overs – a figure they reached largely because or Ravindra Jadeja’s rearguard 50-ball 54. They just couldn’t handle Trent Boult’s wily movement, and with a low total to defend, their bowlers couldn’t force risks from the New Zealand batsmen, who reached the target in 37.1 overs.

Ideally, India would want another match to put in a statement performance, just to ease any unsettled nerves before the tournament proper. A solid performance against a strong Bangladesh side, before they head off for a mini-break (their tournament opener is on 5 June) will be the ideal preparation for the teams.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, have no real concerns as such. They have been in these parts for a while now, going back to the tri-series – which they won – against West Indies and Ireland. Their first warm-up was washed out as well, but as frustrating as it was, it wouldn’t have had much impact on the side.

Head to head

This is a hugely one-sided rivalry. The sides have played each other 35 times since 1988 in ODIs – India have won 29 of those matches. Bangladesh have won just 5. Two of those wins came in the last four years, since after the 2015 World Cup, so their record is improving.

Key players

Rohit Sharma (India): If India’s opener gets going, there’s little stopping him. The starts he provides the team will be crucial for the side as the tournament progresses, and India will hope, after an IPL in which he didn’t hit his usual standards, he can work himself into good form. India will be dangerous if he does.

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): There is a lot of hope placed on Shakib this tournament. He is one of Bangladesh’s few premier players, and after missing a parts the IPL through injury and having overcome another niggle during the tri-series, all eyes will be on him. How will he fare? Bangladesh will hope for the best from him.

Squads

India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vc), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed

Prediction

India to get that all-important win before the big tournament.