NEW DELHI: On the surface, the pre-match prediction for India's upcoming World Cup encounter against Bangladesh on Thursday may appear to be a clear victory for Rohit Sharma's men, given their current form. However, when one delves beneath the glossy exterior, a different narrative emerges, primarily based on recent head-to-head performances.
Bangladesh have emerged as a formidable adversary, having triumphed over India in three out of their last four one-day internationals (ODIs). Notably, they secured two victories in a bilateral series held in December 2022 and added another win in the Asia Cup Super Four match, a recent encounter that remains fresh in memory.
The ongoing tournament has already witnessed underdogs proving their mettle against higher-ranked teams. England and South Africa can attest to this fact following their unexpected defeats to Afghanistan and the Netherlands, respectively.
In light of these surprising upsets, India's approach to the clash with Bangladesh should be cautious and far from complacent. The spectre of a "banana peel" scenario looms, wherein a superior team underestimates its opponent and stumbles, tarnishing its good record in the World Cup.
As the cricketing world continues to witness the shifting dynamics of the game, India must stay vigilant and maintain their winning momentum, recognizing that past statistics do not guarantee future success. In a tournament that has already produced several remarkable outcomes, India aims to steer clear of the pitfalls and retain their stronghold in the competition.
Here's everything you need to know about the ICC ODI World Cup match between India and Bangladesh:
What: India vs Bangladesh, 2023 ODI World Cup 17th Match
When: October 19 (Thursday)
Where: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Time: 1400 IST
Where to watch: Live stream/telecast on Disney Hotstar and Star Sports Networks
Where to follow Live: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports
Playing XI (Likely):
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Bangladesh: Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
