India will play Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup on Wednesday, 2nd November at the Adelaide Oval. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 pm local time.
Their five-wicket loss to South Africa in Perth has injected a degree of jeopardy into this game for India, who cannot afford another defeat. Bangladesh, meanwhile, were beating Zimbabwe in somewhat fortunate circumstances, but find themselves very much in the hunt for a last-four spot.
India licking their wounds
India are licking their wounds after suffering their first setback at this year’s tournament to South Africa. Despite 68 from Suryakumar Yadav, their top order was unable to cope with the pace bowling of Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, and a final score of 133/9 was below par.
When South Africa slumped to 24/3, India still seemed they could pull off the victory.
But Aiden Markram and David Miller combined in a partnership that was watchful at first, but gradually grew more expansive as they got used to the pace and bounce of the pitch.
Both made half centuries as South Africa reached their target with two balls to spare.
Bangladesh gets lucky against Zimbabwe
Bangladesh came into this competition with little form to speak of, but began with a 9-run victory over the Netherlands that was more comfortable than the final scoreboard suggests.
However, they were thrashed by South Africa by 104 runs, a defeat that was highly damaging to their Net Run Rate.
But they needed luck on their side to beat Zimbabwe, after making 150/7 after winning the toss and deciding to bat first.
Zimbabwe needed five to win off the final ball with their last pair at the wicket. Blessing Muzarabani was then stumped only for replays to show that the wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan had taken the ball in front of the stumps.
That meant that Zimbabwe got an extra ball and a free hit, but Muzarabani swung and missed the delivery from spinner Mosaddek Hossain.
Key players for India
Virat Kohli
Kohli has been in fine form in Australia, and his dismissal against South Africa was the first time has been out in this tournament. However, he will be looking to get back into the groove against the Bangladeshis.
Suryakumar Yadav
Yadav was one of the players in the Indian squad with no prior experience of playing in Australian conditions, but, so far, he has taken to them like a duck to water with half centuries against the Dutch and South Africans. The combination between him and Kohli could yet prove decisive if India are to lift the trophy in less than two weeks’ time.
Head to head
The two teams have met 11 times before in T20I cricket, and India have dominated, winning ten of those games. Three of those matches have been in the World Cup.
In 2009 when the competition was staged in England, they won by 25 runs in Nottingham. Five years later, when Bangladesh were the hosts, India won by 8 wickets in Dhaka.
Two years later it was considerably closer in Bengaluru, India squeezing home by one run.
Predicted teams
Bangladesh are likely to be unchanged, but India will be tempted to bring back Axar Patel for Deepak Hooda, who was out for a three-ball duck against the South Africans.
The weather
The weather in Adelaide on the day of the match is expected to be dry, but again unseasonably cold for the time of year.
Prediction
Unless there is a major loss of confidence, this is a match that India should win with ease. They have the much stronger batting and bowling unit, and Bangladesh do not have the same fast bowling threat possessed by the South Africans.
India may want to be more ambitious than that though. A big win that helps their Net Run Rate improve could yet prove very useful if South Africa should stumble in either of their two remaining group games against Pakistan and the Netherlands. At the same time, nothing should be taken for granted. This World Cup has already produced its fair share of shock results and India would not want to be on the wrong side of another one.
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