India-Bangladesh avoid verbal jousts
MELBOURNE: Dark clouds hovered over Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as India finished their practice on Wednesday afternoon. There is forecast for rain on Thursday.
There is plenty of discussion around the India-Bangladesh quarterfinal, but there is calmness in both camps. India are not talking here their six wins in a row while Bangladesh have not really promised they would repeat their 2007 World Cup upset over their more fancied neighbours. India have aggregated 1444 runs while their bowlers have taken 54 wickets, dismissing the opposition in each game. They have finished every match clinically.
Every time there has been a performer. The defending champions have beaten a top side like South Africa while learning some lessons from the games against the weak teams.
NOT TALKING UP
Still Suresh Raina was a touch cautious. “We have done well in batting, bowling and fielding, so now we have three games to go. You can’t take Bangladesh lightly. They have done well against India, we lost to them in 2007 and in the Asia Cup,” the centurion against Zimbabwe told reporters on Wednesday.
Bangladesh acknowledge that it will take a lot to upstage this Indian team. Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza tried not to live in the past.
“2007 is a long way past, it’s not going to help us (thinking about it). Even in 2011, we lost. That also is not going to help us. In the short version cricket, it depends on the particular day, how you play that day. So, we hope that tomorrow we come out with a good plan and execute it successfully. It will be an exciting match.”
With India possessing a strong batting line-up — Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Raina have all scored centuries — it will be interesting to see how Rubel Hossain, who can clock 143-145kph and use the new ball with discipline, and young Taskin Ahmed in the middle overs handle the in-form batting lineup.
Bangladesh have seven lefthanded batsmen. The Indian pace attack has performed well so far but two weak teams, Ireland and Zimbabwe, scored big runs against them. Here, they will face a new situation. It was a month ago at the MCG that India decimated South Africa in the second game of their World Cup campaign and since then there has been no looking back. It has been a remarkable transformation, which Indian fans have thoroughly enjoyed.
With the World Cup coming to the business end, pressure will be on India to win the World Cup, as they know that a slipup from here could be the end of the road. Every game is a knockout and will demand the best. The positive for India is that they have been in this situation before.
Captain MS Dhoni has been in this situation before and has come out with flying colours on many occasions, and that feeling is important in these games. The biggest challenge for all at this level is the belief, and I’m sure India will remain calm in these situations.
EASY OPPONENT
India will be more than happy to play Bangladesh in the quarters. Many might say that it’s Bangladesh but one should not forget that India have played well to be in this position. What are India’s chances? For me, it is 90% and I say this with due respect to Bangladesh.
Many would point to 2007. It was the same day eight years ago but to me it was an accident and I don’t think that will happen again. I know the saying goes, ‘never say never in life’ but I will be surprised if that situation arises again.
To me, India are a much superior side, not just talentwise but on form as well. They have been at the top of their game in all departments, and will continue to be so.
Bangladesh are a muchimproved side. Their bowling is the most improved part of their cricket and I don’t remember any Bangladesh team coming to the World Cup having such a potent bowling side.
This is one reason that they went past England and challenged New Zealand till the end. That New Zealand game, with better field placements, could have gone either way but they will be happy that they have competed so well. They will also be aware that they are up against a very strong SHAKIB against India WICKETS in 11 games @35.76
is his economy rate
MAHMUDULLAH vs India
WICKET in 10 games @229
is his economy rate. ASHWIN against Bangladesh WICKETS in two matches @53
economy rate
JADEJA against Bangladesh WICKETS in 5 matches @54.66
is economy rate
RAINA against Bangladesh WICKET in 9 matches @54 economy rate
However, the record in the last 10 matches at the MCG proves otherwise.
WICKETS have been taken by spinners as against 114 by the pace bowlers
RUNS the spinners have conceded to get a wicket as against 31.14 against pacers. India’s loss to Bangladesh in the 2007 edition that spelt their exit in the first round hurt MS Dhoni a lot. The keeper-batsman didn’t practice for many days after his return to Ranchi. The loss also saw fans pelting stones at the players’ houses. Dhoni himself made a duck and the sight of four Bangladeshi heroes from that game at MCG will surely open old wounds.
Mashrafe Mortaza (4/38),
Shakib Al Hasan (56),
Mushfiqur Rahim (56*) and
Tamim Iqbal (51) all contributed to India’s exit.
India-Bangladesh since the 2007 loss
played won by India
won by Bangladesh
NR Aban.