Rain Threat Looms Over Dead Rubber as India Takes on Bangladesh
The final league game of the tournament between India and Bangladesh, though a dead rubber, offers a chance for fringe players to shine. Rain could disrupt play in Colombo.
The final league game of the tournament is technically a dead rubber, as India has already secured its spot in the final, while Bangladesh has been eliminated. However, this fixture serves as an opportunity for both teams to give their fringe players some game time.
Bangladesh, in particular, hasn’t named its World Cup squad yet, making this match a crucial opportunity for those players whose spots are still uncertain. On the other hand, India has already revealed its 15-man squad, but with injuries being inevitable in modern cricket, they aim to ensure that their backup players have some time in the middle.
Bangladesh’s campaign has been a story of missed opportunities. They managed one convincing win against Afghanistan but failed to perform in crucial moments in the other three games. Their batting let them down in both matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which is a major concern with the World Cup on the horizon.
In contrast, India has had a satisfactory campaign so far. Despite some pressure on their middle order in the tournament opener against Pakistan, their recovery was promising. The bowling unit’s efforts in defending a below-par score in the last game were also commendable. Skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged minor areas for improvement during his post-match interactions, but overall, India seems to be riding a wave of momentum.
Match Details
- Date: Friday, September 15 at 3:00 PM Local Time
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Weather Forecast
Traditionally, this is the post-monsoon period in Sri Lanka, but recent rains are unusual. Unfortunately, more rain is expected on Friday, which could lead to another stop-start contest. The pitch should be slow with some turn, but the amount of rain will determine how it plays. Excessive dampness could result in extravagant seam movement.
Team News
India: Given the tight schedule, India is likely to make a few changes. Players like Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma may get a chance in the XI. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah might be rested to manage their workloads, and the choice between Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur will depend on conditions. Mohammed Shami is expected to replace Bumrah.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Tilak Varma/Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel/Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Bangladesh: With no hopes of progressing further in the tournament, Bangladesh has a chance to experiment with its combination. Players like Mohammed Naim, Afif Hossain, Anamul Haque, and Tanzid Hasan could see changes in the lineup.
Probable XI: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammed Naim/Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud
Did You Know?
- Taskin Ahmed is Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in 2023 with 21 wickets in 10 innings, picking up two or more wickets six times.
- Rohit Sharma has an impressive track record against Bangladesh in multi-national tournaments, with his last five innings reading 137, 123, 83, 48, and 104.
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