Revisiting the 4 India-Bangladesh matches in the ODI World Cup
India and Bangladesh have formed a unique rivalry in ODIs despite the sides being at the opposite end of the spectrum results-wise. The excitement surrounding their upcoming meeting in the 2023 World Cup stems from a few heated on-field moments, anti-climatic finishes, and passionate fans from both nations.
India and Bangladesh have played each other in 40 ODIs, with the Men in Blue holding a healthy 31-8 (one no result) advantage. However, the Tigers will take solace from the fact they have beaten India in three of the previous four ODI meetings, including the recent Asia Cup clash.
The overall ODI World Cup records indicate a one-sided rivalry, with Team India being two-time world champions and perineal semi-finalists. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have never qualified for the final four in their six appearances at the showpiece event.
Yet, the brewing India-Bangladesh clash at Pune on October 19 has all the makings of a potential humdinger thanks to the visitors' recent stranglehold on Rohit Sharma's Men.
As we build up to another potentially mouth-watering contest, let us revisit the four previous India-Bangladesh ODI World Cup matches.
#1 A stunning upset fuels the India-Bangladesh rivalry in 2007
Considering the upsets in the past few matches of the ongoing World Cup, it is only apt that we look back at a similar result that well and truly kickstarted the India-Bangladesh rivalry.
While India and Bangladesh first met in 1988, the Men in Blue won the first 12 meetings between the sides. However, the tide finally turned when the Tigers upstaged the Indians for the first time at home in 2004.
Almost three years later, the two sides met in the Group B clash of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. Despite India being the overwhelming favorites entering the clash, they were immediately in trouble at 72/4 on a sluggish pitch at Port of Spain.
Despite a defiant 85-run partnership between former skipper Sourav Ganguly and the stylish Yuvraj Singh, the Indians were bundled out for a paltry 191. With the prospect of creating an improbable upset, Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal smashed a breathtaking 51 off 53 deliveries, including the famous six of Zaheer Khan that landed on the roof.
Tamim's knock was followed by well-compiled half-centuries from soon-to-be heroes of Bangladesh cricket, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan. While the former remained unbeaten till the winning runs with 56* off 108 deliveries, Shakib scored a valuable 53 off 86.
In the end, Bangladesh completed the stunning result in the 49th over with five wickets in hand to land a body blow on the Rahul Dravid-led side. The Indians could never recover from the shocking defeat as they lost the final group stage game to Sri Lanka to bow out of the World Cup even before the Super Eights.
Despite the troika of half-centuries, the star of Bangladesh's victory was pacer Mashrafe Mortaza, with incredible bowling figures of 4/38.
In many ways, the result kickstarted the India-Bangladesh rivalry in world cricket, with emotions running high in subsequent meetings.
#2 Indian batters dominate to open a dream 2011 World Cup campaign
Reeling off the 2007 shock to Bangladesh, Team India riled off seven straight wins against their Asian rivals leading up to the 2011 World Cup meeting. Pitted among the heavy favorites to clinch their second World Cup title, India squared off against Bangladesh in the tournament opener at Mirpur.
Much like in 2007, The Men in Blue batted first, but the Tigers soon figured the result would not be remotely similar to four years ago. Led by a masterful 175 by destructive opener Virender Sehwag and a century on World Cup debut by Virat Kohli, Team India posted a mammoth 370/4 in their 50 overs.
The 203-run partnership between the duo also saw Sehwag record the highest score in a World Cup opener and the joint second-highest by an Indian batter at the showpiece event.
In reply, Bangladesh constantly succumbed to the scoreboard pressure to finish on 283/9 and lose by a massive 87 runs. Munaf Patel led the bowling attack, with figures of 4/48 in his 10 overs.
Sehwag was awarded the Player of the Match. Team India were off to the perfect start in a campaign that ended with MS Dhoni and his men lifting their second ODI World Cup title at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
#3 A Rohit Sharma masterclass ends Bangladesh's dream run in the 2015 World Cup
Bangladesh were at an all-time high after qualifying for their first and only quarter-final in ODI World Cups in 2015. Following their surprising ousting of England, the India-Bangladesh quarter-final had a lot riding on it, with both teams trying to book a place in the final four.
However, hopes of another upset were snuffed out by opening batter Rohit Sharma, who scored a scintillating 137 off 126 deliveries. Despite India being in slight trouble at 79/2 and 115/3, Rohit stitched together a match-winning 122-run partnership to propel India to 302/6 at the MCG.
Although emotions flared up when Rohit was adjudged not out on 91 off an outfield due to a waist-high no ball, the decision had no implications on the outcome. Bangladesh was shut out for a paltry 193 in 45 overs to suffer a 109-run defeat and head home following a dream World Cup run.
Rohit Sharma was the Player of the Match for his first of seven World Cup centuries, while Suresh Raina's 65 and Umesh Yadav's four-wicket haul were ideal foils for India's crushing win.
#4 Rohit Sharma's dream 2019 World Cup run dooms Bangladesh
It was deja vu four years later, with Rohit Sharma sinking Bangladesh's hope again with a delightful century at Edgbaston.
While the 36-year-old scored his lone century in the 2015 World Cup against Bangladesh, it was a different story in 2019. This was one of five tons by the star batter during his magical campaign in England.
Winning the toss and batting first, the Men in Blue immediately went on the rampage with a sparkling opening partnership of 180 faster than a run-a-ball between Rohit and KL Rahul. The carnage continued with contributions from Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and MS Dhoni as India racked up 314/9 in 50 overs.
In reply, Bangladesh posed a respectable challenge by mounting a score of 286 all out in 48 overs, thanks to an impressive 66 by Shakib Al Hasan and a late flurry by Mohammad Saifuddin. However, it always felt like one-way traffic as Jasprit Bumrah starred with 4/55 in his ten overs.
During the game, Rohit Sharma became the leading run-scorer in the tournament, a position he held till the end with 648 runs in nine games at an other-worldly average of 81.