India will hope their batting fires in unison to add some more confidence to the team's unbeaten campaign that will see
Rohit Sharma
& Co playing their second game of the 'Super 8s' stage against Bangladesh in Antigua on Saturday.
India had defeated Afghanistan comfortably by 47 runs in their first match in Group 1, but can't let complacency creep into their game, especially when the team's batting is yet to find its prolific touch.
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Despite India's overwhelming head-to-head record against Bangladesh, the 'Men in Blue' remain cautious of their plucky opponents. Off the field, Bangladesh have often expressed concerns about India's financial dominance in the sport, adding another layer to their cricketing rivalry.
In the ongoing T20 World Cup, India are undoubtedly serious title contenders, having showcased a professional performance against Afghanistan in their opening 'Super 8s' match. With only a travel day separating their remaining two games, the team is eager for the underperforming players to step up and deliver.
The opening pair of
Virat Kohli
and Rohit Sharma, who have gotten starts but failed to convert them into substantial knocks, top the list of players under pressure. Despite their conscious efforts to force the pace, it has yielded minimal returns. Another team member facing scrutiny is left-hander
Shivam Dube
, who was selected for his ability to hit sixes in the middle and death overs. However, the IPL form that earned him a World Cup spot has deserted him, and he is yet to make a significant contribution.
The left-handed batsman contributed an undefeated 31 runs against the USA in a group-stage match, but it was Suryakumar Yadav's performance that ultimately proved decisive. If he fails to deliver once more, the team management may be compelled to consider including Sanju Samson in the middle order.
The most encouraging aspect of India's batting performance in the Afghanistan match was Hardik Pandya's brief but impactful innings. The all-rounder is renowned for his powerful hitting, which he showcased on Thursday.
Regarding the bowling lineup, India are likely to maintain the same combination, having given the talented left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav his first opportunity of the tournament.
The pitches in the Caribbean have offered sufficient assistance to the spinners, encouraging India to field three spinners at the Kensington Oval. This combination is expected to persist, with Kuldeep retaining his spot in place of Mohammed Siraj.
"Playing three left-arm spinners, I feel there is an advantage. There are three left-arm spinners out of which we have two finger spinners and one wrist spinner," said Axar Patel after the Afghanistan game.
"The combination of the three of us is very good. We have a good team. We communicate well. Like whoever comes to bowl first, we communicate what is working and what is not. I think that is very important when you bowl as a unit," he added.
India's primary objective in the Caribbean is to secure the title, and a strong showing against Bangladesh will make the team more confident about achieving that goal. However, a more formidable challenge lies ahead when they face Australia on June 24.
Following their defeat against Australia, Bangladesh are now in a precarious position where they must emerge victorious in their upcoming match. Their batting woes have persisted throughout the tournament, and the absence of power-hitters in their lineup has been a significant hindrance. Unfortunately, there is no immediate solution to this issue.
To make matters worse, the disappointing performances of opening batsmen Litton Das and Tanzid Khan have further exacerbated Bangladesh's troubles. Their inability to provide solid starts has put additional pressure on the middle order, making it difficult for the team to post competitive totals.
"It's very important for the top-order to get runs like we did today, that's a big boost; hopefully the bowlers will continue their form. Looking for a good show against India in our next match," Bangladesh captain Najmul Shanto said after the loss to Australia in Antigua on Friday.
Shanto and Towhid Hridoy showcased their skills with scores of 41 and 40 respectively, but the remaining batsmen struggled to make significant contributions. The Bangladeshi team faces a formidable challenge in countering Bumrah's exceptional bowling prowess. With eight wickets to his name and an impressive economy rate of just 3.46 runs per over, Bumrah has been a dominant force in the series so far.
While the pace attack, spearheaded by Mustafizur Rahman, has performed reasonably well, the spin department requires bolstering. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain needs additional support from his fellow spinners to create a more balanced and effective bowling unit.
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