3 things Bangladesh need to do right to beat India in 2024 T20 World Cup clash
The matches are coming thick and fast in the Super-Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. While Team India beat Afghanistan comprehensively in Barbados on June 20, 2024, Bangladesh lost their encounter to Australia on the night of the same day.
Bangladesh face India in an all-important do-or-die clash at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on June 22, 2024. In 13 matches played between the Asian teams in the shortest format, Bangladesh have beaten India only once and lost on 12 occasions. Their solitary win against India was in Delhi in 2019.
Team India have been unbeaten so far in the T20 World Cup 2024 and Bangladesh will have to put their best foot forward to beat the Asian giants.
On that note, here are three things Bangladesh need to do right to beat India in an all-important clash in the T20 World Cup 2024:
#1 Shakib Al Hasan should bat at number three
Out of five matches in the T20 World Cup 2024, Shakib Al Hasan has batted at number six on two occasions and at number four on three occasions. Bangladesh would need their best batter to play the maximum number of deliveries against India and could consider promoting Shakib to number three.
In the past, Shakib has tasted success at three even in the shortest format. He has averaged 29.32 so far with the bat at number three, which is way above his career batting average of 23.52. Even his strike rate of 123.16 at number three is a tad above his career strike rate.
Shakib should be the designated number three for Bangladesh as he could counter the experienced Jasprit Bumrah in the power play overs. He is equally effective against the spinners and could unsettle the three Indian left-arm spinners.
Tactically, Shakib is the best bet at number three for Bangladesh and could score big against India at the said batting position.
#2 Open the bowling with a left-handed pacer
Left-handed pacers have troubled the Indian top-order right through the tournament. Rohit Sharma was dismissed by Shaheen Afridi in New York when the arch-rivals faced each other.
In the encounter against the USA, Saurabh Netravalkar dismissed both Indian openers viz. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cheaply in his first two overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed the Indian skipper in the Super Eight encounter in Barbados.
Thus, it is evident that the Indian openers and, in particular, their skipper Rohit Sharma are not very comfortable up front against left-arm pacers.
Bangladesh could consider opening the bowling with Mustafizur Rahman against India. Another option would be to draft Shoriful Islam in the playing XI.
To halt Team India's winning run in the ongoing World Cup, Bangladesh will have to be at their very best and execute their plans perfectly on the field in Antigua.
#3 Stay wary of Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has been at his very best in the T20 World Cup 2024. His eight wickets in four matches have been at an exceptional average of 6.50 and an economy rate of 3.46.
Bangladesh batters will have to be wary of the Indian pacer in Antigua. The main objective of the batters would be not to lose any wicket against Bumrah upfront with the new ball. If the Bangladesh top order negotiates Bumrah with the new ball without losing a wicket, they could attack other Indian bowlers.
If Bangladesh batters do not concede their wickets to Bumrah and he goes wicketless, the pressure would be on the other Indian bowlers to stop the onslaught especially in the death overs.