Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
Asia Cup 2018 was supposed to be the big India-Pakistan showdown. At least that is what organisers and broadcasters were hoping for. Instead, those two matches were so one-sided that it is really not a big deal that we won’t see another match up in the Final. Instead, we will see a side continuing their rise in ODI cricket up against a side that has unbelievable know-how in this format.
India, in matches of significance in this tournament, have swept aside all before them, including Bangladesh. Back at full strength today, the Indians will be a much tougher test than Pakistan for the Tigers, with their bowling attack particularly outstanding in energy-sapping conditions. In their quest for their seventh Asia Cup Title, India will have to guard against a Bangladesh side that continues to fight. However, even without Virat Kohli, this India side looks very well drilled, and will certainly be difficult to beat. Can they justify their big favourites tag?
Bangladesh will be hoping it’s sixth time lucky. In five multi-team tournaments since 2009, Bangladesh have lost all five finals, including a heavy defeat in their last Asia Cup Final appearance in 2016 v India. They will certainly be encouraged by the fact that this is their third Asia Cup Final appearance in the last four editions, and will be craving one more big effort. They start the game as obvious outsiders, but can they outplay their more fancied opponents on the day, even without Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan?
PS, looking to improve your cricketing skills? More wickets? More runs? More fun? Check out some great tips from Cricket Secrets! You can visit here.
Key to an India win
Last Friday, India forced an unbelievable 190 dot balls against Bangladesh, which paved the way to a very comfortable victory. Bangladesh enjoyed life in the middle overs against Pakistan, thanks to the inconsistent bowling of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz. However, India are a different beast, boasting Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Kedar Jadhav who have combined for 23 wickets at an economy rate of just 4.17 in Asia Cup 2018.
Can Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah find success at the top against a very shaky Bangladesh top order? If they do, it sets up the match perfectly for India, giving the spinners a rocky boat to try sink.
Also, the importance of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan can’t be stressed enough. India’s middle order woes were on show against Hong Kong and Afghanistan, and need these two to continue their imperious form in the tournament. If they do, pressure will be lifted on their middle order, which is short of runs and time in the middle.
Key to a Bangladesh win
Mustafizur Rahman, a bowler who will one day be considered Bangladesh’s best ever seamer, is winning games for his country. That they have reached this stage is mostly down to his fantastic bowling under pressure, and given the movement he found against Pakistan, he is a huge key to Bangladesh’s chances given the importance of Rohit and Shikhar for India.
He hasn’t had the best of times against India in recent matches, but can he lead the attack well today, backed up by an attack that kept the pressure on Pakistan right throughout the innings on Wednesday? Going with the same attack that they went with against Pakistan could be a risk, given the strong India batting, so it’s vital the likes of Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar can contribute once again.
Also, Bangladesh’s incompetence at the top has put their middle order under serious pressure in must-win matches. That the middle order responded well against Pakistan and Afghanistan is encouraging, but they do not want to be facing India’s spin attack with a number of wickets down. Mushfiqur Rahim has been superb, with excellent performances too from Mohammad Mithun, Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah. Can the top order give a good start, enabling the middle order to build a good total?
Possible XIs
India will be back at full strength after resting a number of players in their thrilling tie against Afghanistan.
India possible XI: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Ambati Rayudu, 4. Dinesh Karthik, 5. MS Dhoni (wk), 6. Kedar Jadhav, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Jasprit Bumrah
Bangladesh, on the other hand, have a number of injury concerns. As known, Tamim and Shakib are not available, and there are whispers that Mushfiqur Rahim is struggling fitness wise after a huge effort against Pakistan in the Abu Dhabi heat. In such a high-stakes game though, expect Bangladesh to go in with the same XI that beat Pakistan.
Bangladesh possible XI: 1. Liton Das (wk), 2. Soumya Sarkar, 3. Mominul Haque, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim, 5. Mohammad Mithun, 6. Imrul Kayes, 7. Mahmudullah, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Mashrafe Mortaza (c), 10. Rubel Hossain, 11. Mustafizur Rahman
An interesting game awaits from a
Dream11 perspective! My team is below, with pointers.
- Mushfiqur Rahim takes the wicket keeping spot, despite reported fitness concerns. Keep an eye for all news before deadline.
- Will Rohit Sharma go big today? I have a feeling he might be dismissed relatively early, so I have gone with my gut instinct. Of course, I could be very wrong. Shikhar Dhawan is my captain.
- Ravindra Jadeja, following his excellent performance against Bangladesh last week, gets a run. So too Mahmudullah, who will do some bowling as well.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are good picks against a struggling Bangladesh top order. Kuldeep Yadav is a safe pick too, and Mustafizur Rahman is in fine touch.
Stats and Facts
- India have won ten straight games against Bangladesh in all formats.
- Dinesh Karthik hit a last ball six to break Bangladesh hearts in the Nidahas Trophy Final earlier this year.
- Mushfiqur Rahim has scored 29% of Bangladesh’s runs in Asia Cup 2018.
- Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are two of the three top run scorers in the tournament.
- India have won six Asia Cup Titles previously. Bangladesh are aiming for their first.
Prediction
Head says India, heart says Bangladesh. It will be great to see the Tigers lift their first Asia Cup Trophy, but it is difficult to see it happening against a good India side.
Their biggest hope lies in getting top order runs and getting into India’s middle order as quickly as possible. Much easier said than done, though. India to win.
Thanks for reading!
PS, looking to improve your cricketing skills? More wickets? More runs? More fun? Check out some great tips from
Cricket Secrets! You can visit
here.