Bangladesh Eye Complete Dominance as Team India Look to Avoid Humiliating Whitewash
Bangladesh have already clinched the three-match ODI series 2-0. A win in the final match for the hosts in Mirpur will see India confined to one of its most humiliating series losses ever.
Having lost the first two ODIs against Bangladesh, Team India is staring at the possibility of suffering one of the most humiliating ODI whitewashes in recent times. A defeat in the third and final ODI - scheduled to be played on Wednesday - will see the two-time World Champions concede the series 3-0 to a team which is ranked seventh in the world. (Preview of final Bangladesh vs India ODI)
The touring party has been under fire since losing the first ODI last week. While the outcomes of the first two matches have left them red-faced, the margin of defeats have also brought enormous shame. While Bangladesh claimed the first match by 79 runs with debutant Mustafizur Rahman claiming five, the second match once again saw a fifer from the pacer confining India to a six-wicket defeat. That Bangladesh is a good team at home was always known. What wasn't though is that India would roll over and end up facing a humiliating whitewash. (Bangladesh vs India: Series recap)
In the past, India has suffered three whitewashes in ODI series having a minimum of three matches. The first was way back in 1983-84 when the team was blanked 5-0 by West Indies. There was more humiliation in the Caribbeans when the team lost by the same margin in a series played in 1988-99. More recently, the Indians went down 4-0 to hosts South Africa. While the opposition had a superb reputation and were in good form in each of these occasions, a similar result against 'minnows' Bangladesh could spell doom for the team.
Eyes have already begun rolling with ODI captain MS Dhoni offering to quit after the second ODI defeat last week. (Read full report here)
Ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin - while defending Dhoni - has admitted that the team has failed as a unit. (Read full report here)
Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has blamed lifeless batting for the two debacles. Speaking to NDTV, he said the top-order's failure has hurt the entire team. (Read full report here)
It is clear then that while Bangladesh has played a fiery brand of cricket, the Indians also have themselves to blame. The final match of the series then, may be seen as either a dead rubber or a chance to save face. A win may not do much to heal wounded pride but a loss will heighten the sheer pain - one that can only be felt by a team whitewashed.