IND vs BAN, T20 World Cup: Three key battles for India to ace against Bangladesh ahead of Australia and knockout matches

India will take on Bangladesh in their Super 8 match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua on Saturday with the hopes of nailing down a semifinal spot.

Having emerged unscathed from the group stage and beaten Afghanistan in their Super 8 opener, Rohit Sharma’s side look poised to make the knockouts alongside Australia from Group 1. However, the Men in Blue have not been a flawless unit with lingering concerns in the batting and bowling departments. The Bangladesh fixture will prove to be a contest where India can be tested around some of their weaknesses ahead of their final group game against Australia and a potential semifinal clash against the second-placed side in Group 2 (England/South Africa/West Indies).

Openers vs Bangladesh pacers

Rohit Sharma has had a torrid run with the bat alongside Virat Kohli at the top, with both batters struggling to come to terms with the sluggish pitches. The Indian skipper’s weakness against left-arm pace was exploited in the previous game where Afghan seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi foxed him with a slower-delivery.

In Mustafizur Rahman, Rohit will find a similar challenge to counter up top. Rohit, however, holds a positive record against Mustafizur in T20s, having recorded 122 runs off 72 deliveries with a 169.44 strike rate and a healthy 40-plus average. Adept at using the slower cutters, Mustafizur has dismissed Rohit thrice in 11 T20 meetings.

Meanwhile, Kohli’s challenge will be firmed up by the presence of Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib whose skiddy pace and probing lines outside the off-stump can test the India batter’s resolve. Kohli is enduring his worst run at the T20 World Cup with three single-digit dismissals and a run-a-ball 24 against Afghanistan. Overcoming Saturday’s challenge will be crucial for Kohli to shape up for a stacked Australian attack and the potential knockouts thereafter, all of whom bear potent seam attacks.

Rishabh Pant’s spin challenge

While Pant’s unorthodox shots have provided India with breathing space after the openers’ struggle, the southpaw has been largely untested by leg-spin which has concerned him in T20Is over the years. Pant has only faced five deliveries of wrist-spin in the tournament, scoring six runs. He was dismissed by Rashid Khan leg-before while attempting a reverse-sweep in the previous outing and Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain could offer a similar challenge to the India No. 3. The sprightly leg-spinner has emerged as a key bowler for Bangladesh, also holding an appreciable record against left-hand batters (six wicket at an 8.59 economy).

Even as he has only been dismissed thrice in 21 innings, Pant’s overall strike rate slumps to 118.59 against leg-spin in T20Is. India are likely to come up against quality wristspinners in their upcoming games and Pant’s contest against Rishad could emerge a crucial factor.

The Dube question

Drafted into the T20 World Cup side to specifically bolster the middle-overs hitting, Shivam Dube has failed to light up the tournament with the bat. Skipper Rohit Sharma has also refrained from using Dube with the ball, rendering his spot under a cloud in the playing XI. Against Afghanistan, Dube also failed to take on spin and eventually fell to leggie Rashid. Known for his penchant to tonking the spinners down the ground, Dube has been silenced partially by the wrist-spinners this year.

Dube was dismissed leg-before by Rashid Khan in the previous match. (AP)

Dube’s strike-rate takes a considerable hit when facing leg-spin in T20Is. While he holds a 152.57 strike rate agains spin in all T20s this year, Dube has only been dismissed five times of which three have come against wrist-spin. His 157.89 strike-rate against wristpin in T20s in 2024 witnesses a corresponding dip to 127.77 in T20Is. Consequently, Dube’s contest against Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad could be a make-or-break situation for the southpaw and India’s composition going forward.

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