India vs Bangladesh: First ODI preview
After rain played spoilsport in the one-off Test between India and Bangladesh, the focus shifts to the shorter version of the game, with the first ODI at Mirpur on Thursday. For the first time since the World Cup, the visitors will be seen in action in the 50-over format.
A packed Indian schedule and BCB’s failure to adhere to the proposals of the BCCI, ECB and CA has led to the truncated series being played in the monsoon season.
Bangladesh
BCB earlier this week announced its ODI squad for the series. Mashrafe Mortaza will be at the helm once again, deputed by Shakib-Al-Hasan, who showed signs of troubling the Indian middle order in the limited opportunities that the Test provided.
Two uncapped players, Litton Das and Mustafizur Rahman, have been included in the squad that has most of the players from the World Cup. The 20-year-old Das is a wicketkeeper-batsman who made his Test debut in the match against India. Mustafizur on the other hand was impressive in Bangladesh A’s tour to the Caribbean.
Seamer Rubel Hossain also makes a comeback after missing the Fatullah Test. But the team will miss the services of Mahmudullah, who was in fine form during the World Cup earlier this year, averaging 73 with two consecutive centuries.
The Tigers appear to be a settled unit in the shorter format, having white-washed Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
The 6’2” Taskin Ahmed took 5-28 against the Indians on his ODI debut last year and will be the mainstay of the bowling attack, supported by the fit-again Mashrafe Mortaza. Soumya Sarkar, who made 127 against Pakistan earlier this year, is expected to open along with Tamim Iqbal, who recently surpassed Habibul Bashar as the highest run getter for his country.
India
BCCI announced a full strength squad for the ODI series, quelling reports that Virat Kohli might be given some rest. A knee injury has forced Mohammad Shami out of the squad, paving the way for the return of 26-year-old Dhawal Kulkarni, who last played for India in November. MS Dhoni will join the team for the ODI series, having announced his retirement from the longer format before the World Cup.
After arriving with the team in Dhaka, Suresh Raina reiterated the importance of not taking the series lightly. Last year, eight first-choice players were rested for the three ODI matches against the same opponents.
The all-rounder spot will most likely be given to Ravindra Jadeja, with the likes of Stuart Binny and Dhawal Kulkarni also in contention. The former bowled an astonishing spell of 6-4 in the second ODI in Dhaka last year.
Venue and history
The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur is the host for all the three games of the series. India have won eight out of the 10 matches against the hosts at this venue. Kohli has been the most prolific run scorer for India here, averaging 105.28 from 11 games.
Rain washed out the previous match between the two teams at the same ground last year.
A no-ball controversy turned sour in the previous India-Bangladesh encounter at Melbourne, when the ICC President from Bangladesh, Mustafa Kamal, accused the umpires of favouring the Indian team.
Rankings
A 3-0 result in favour of second-placed India won’t be enough for them to claim the number one spot in the ICC rankings. Bangladesh, on the other hand, look for a favorable home result which will help them qualify for the 2017 Champions trophy.
To remain in the top eight, they need to win at least one of the three matches.
Weather and pitch
Heavy rains have been forecast, and it will be interesting to see how the generally slow pitch reacts to the monsoons. Due to the rainy weather that ruined most sessions of the Test, a reserve day has been allotted for the game, as well as for the other two.
Squads
Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Rony Talukdar, Arafat Sunny, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed.
India: MS Dhoni (c&wk), Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni.