Last Updated on 10 years by Charbel Coorey

Bangladesh played very solid cricket in the Group Stage

Big brother v little brother. “Superior” v “Inferior.” David v Goliath. This game has been touted as the Quarter Final that could be the most one sided out of the four games. If this game is more one sided than South Africa’s thrashing of Sri Lanka at the SCG, I’d be surprised. The way
Bangladesh have been playing in this tournament, they’ll back themselves to be competitive. India, who are deserved favourites to go through to the Semi Finals, can’t take their neighbours lightly.

Since that famous Bangladesh win over India in the 2007 World Cup, Bangladesh have only beaten India once. This was also in a major tournament, chasing 290 on their way to the 2012 Asia Cup final. However, it is not as if they haven’t given India a headache or two to deal with. In 2014, one of Bangladesh’s worst years, they played India four times and were in potential winning positions each time:

A second string India beat Bangladesh 2-0 last June.

– Asia Cup 2014: Bangladesh scored 279/7 thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim’s century but Bangladesh’s bowling wasn’t threatening enough with India cruising home thanks to Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.
– 1st ODI of India tour of Bangladesh in June 2014: Bangladesh scored in excess of 270 again but a second string India got home on the D/L method.
– 2nd ODI of India tour of Bangladesh in June 2014: Probably one of the most extraordinary games in ODI cricket. Bangladesh bowled India out for 105 and then lost 8/14 to be bowled out for 58. Another winning position squandered in 2014 by Bangladesh. Young Taskin Ahmed took 5/28 on debut for Bangladesh, before Stuart Binny took 6/4 in 4.4 overs.
– 3rd ODI of India tour of Bangladesh in June 2014: India were 119/9 before rain stopped play. A second string India beat Bangladesh 2-0. Bangladesh now face a full strength Indian team off the back of ten consecutive wins in World Cups. It will be a tough ask for Bangladesh.

Mushfiqur Rahim has a good record v India (avg 42+ in 14 games)

Key for Bangladesh to win:

Play with freedom and play aggressively. With Bangladesh playing with much greater confidence at the moment, if they are able to put India under any sort of pressure, who knows what can happen. Bangladesh will need to be perfect in all aspects, while India need to be off a little. India’s bowlers have been superb in this tournament, bowling out each team they played in the group stages but the Indian attack is not invincible, so how well Bangladesh can put pressure on the Indian bowlers will be interesting to see. They were rolled for 58 last year thanks to Binny and Mohit Sharma, who will have a role to play today, who took 4 wickets. However, conditions are expected to be better for batting in Melbourne and Bangladesh have scored a number of 270+ scores v India in recent years. Bat first and get runs on the board and who knows…

Key for India to win:

India’s pace bowlers have been impressive.

No complacency. On paper, they are the stronger side and are expected to win and win comfortably. Many of their fans and media outlets believe that they have already booked their place in the Semi Finals. They need to focus here before they focus on anything else because Bangladesh will be looking to take advantage of any complacency. India’s pace bowlers have been a revelation and can cause Bangladesh a few problems. They have been supported brilliantly by Ravi Ashwin. The likes of Kohli, Dhawan, Dhoni and Rohit Sharma can hurt Bangladesh with the bat. They possess a much better side on paper than Bangladesh so focus is the key.

Shakib was man of the match the last time Bangladesh beat India

Player to watch for Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan. Yes, the likes of Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Rubel
Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim have been brilliant in this tournament but Bangladesh will want Shakib to fire in this game if they are to be a chance. His stats this tournament (batting – 186 runs @ 46.50; bowling – 7 wickets @ 34.28 with economy rate of 5.03) are statistics any all-rounder would be proud of. However, Shakib hasn’t quite peaked yet in this tournament and what better time to put in his best display in front of a huge MCG crowd in a knockout game.

Player to watch for India: Virat Kohli. Kohli has been the thorn in Bangladesh’s side in the last few years. Against Bangladesh, Virat Kohli averages 126.50 in six matches with three centuries. Bangladesh would love to have him come in nice and early and put him under some sort of pressure by targeting his off stump. If Bangladesh don’t bowl well to him, watch out.

Stats:
– This is Bangladesh’s 300th ODI. In their 100th ODI, they beat India for the first time in 2004 and in their 150th ODI, they upset India in the 2007 World Cup.
– In World Cups, both teams are level on one win a piece. India thrashed Bangladesh in the 2011 opener after Bangladesh knocked India out in 2007.
– Since 2011, Bangladesh have scored 270+ vs India four times in five completed matches.
– India have won the last three completed matches between the two sides.

Prediction: Bangladesh have been really good this tournament – they pushed New Zealand all the way last Friday. They’ll want to push India as much as they can and compete as long as possible and as a Bangladesh fan, it’d be great to see a good fighting performance. However, it’s hard to see anything other than an India win. India’s batting, bowling and fielding are superior to Bangladesh on paper. Bangladesh’s hope will lie in the fact that no game in won on paper. Should be a good game.