World Cup 2015, Incredible India vs Buoyant Bangladesh: Top Five Battles to Watch Out For
India vs Bangladesh in World Cup 2015 quarters is being seen by many as a David vs Goliath contest. In this battle, here are the duels to watch out for.
Defeating world champions India won't be an easy prospect. Especially not considering the team is on a 10-match winning spree in World Cups. Bangladesh though are upbeat which makes the second quarterfinal of World Cup 2015 a 'David vs Goliath' clash that just shouldn't be missed. (Bangladesh to Battle Odds and Crowd Against India)
India have been a revelation in this World Cup with wins against fellow strong teams powering them in the leagues. The likes of Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe came and went but could not deflate India's sails in Pool B. The minnows - Ireland and UAE - never really stood much of a chance. While batting has always been the mainstay of Dhoni's team, the pace attack has been paying rich dividends and the likes of Mohammad Shami and Mohit Sharma will look to sharpen their already razor-like bowling claws when they take on Bangladesh. (India's Bowling Coach Proud of his Bowlers)
The Men in Green though have nothing to lose. They stunned England to chuck them out of the World Cup. Mashrafe Mortaza's side then showed fierce competitiveness against New Zealand. Although the side scratched through to quarters, it has enough firepower to bring India down.
An upset?
Bangla fans believe that word doesn't exist in their team's dictionary. The only word that matters is 'triumph.' (Not Taking Bangladesh Lightly: Raina)
Here are the top battles to watch out for when the two teams face off at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground:
Shikhar Dhawan vs Mashrafe Mortaza
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Two centuries and a fifty from six matches counts a lot. Shikhar Dhawan will, therefore, have the bragging rights when he comes out to open the innings in the quarters. The Delhi batsman has played an aggressive brand of cricket so far in the tournament. While it has failed in the rare match, when it worked, India romped home to splendid wins - the unbeaten 137 against South Africa being the cornerstone of his efforts Down Under.
While match against Bangladesh comes as a chance to go one step further, squaring off against Bangladesh captain Mortaza won't be easy.
Some bowlers have skill, some have aggression and others have precision. Mortaza has all of these and an extreme passion which makes him a cameraperson's delight. He gives it his all each time he runs in and will surely look to make full use of bounce at MCG to satiate his gigantic appetite for wickets.
Mortaza did not play Bangladesh's final match in the league stages. This means he is fresh and raring to fire. With six wickets from four World Cup 2015 matches, expect him to add a few Indians to his list of oppositions downed.
Virat Kohli vs Shakib al Hasan
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He has hit a century and it was against arch-rivals Pakistan. However, a commanding knock from Virat Kohli is due in this World Cup.
Coming in to bat at No. 3, Kohli's approach will depend a lot on how well the openers fare. If he has to come in early, Kohli would look to rebuild before switching gears. If he walks out after a foundation has been laid, he can effortlessly propel India's middle-over expedition.
It is in the middle-overs that Shakib-al-Hasan is lethal too. While his batting is commendable, it is his slow left-arm spin that can outfox oppositions. Kohli - like his teammates - is a good player of spin but falling into a lull against Shakib can be his undoing. That is what happened to the mighty Kiwis with Shakib removing the likes of Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson without breaking a sweat.
A talented bowler, underestimating Shakib can work to his advantage and leave the Indian fans silenced.
Suresh Raina vs Rubel Hossain
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If momentum can guarantee repeated big knocks, Suresh Raina is smashing a century against Bangladesh. After all, he rescued India from a spot of bother against Zimbabwe and is known to build on good knocks from previous matches.
Raina has not had many opportunities to showcase his batting talents this World Cup. With the top-order doing well, Raina comes in late and puts the finishing touches. Whether it is the late fireworks or early construction though, Bangladesh would know that Raina is a deadly proposition.
With seven wickets and an attitude that is typical of pacers around the world, Rubel Hossain would aim to blunt Raina with his pace. He became a national hero when his four for 53 dismantled an already rickety English team. Against India, he would be banking on an encore.
Mohammad Shami vs Mahmudullah
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Mohammad Shami has been a disciplined war horse of India's bowling campaign this World Cup. With 16 wickets, he has not only established himself as the best in his team but one of the best in the tournament.
Every time he has stepped out to bowl, Shami has looked to hit the deck hard and stick to the basics. It has worked well for him as the Bengal speedster has managed to get wickets with the new as well as the weathered ball. Against Mahmudullah though, expect him to punch trades through the course of the match.
Mahmudullah has established himself as one of the versatile batsmen in the tournament. He has mostly batted at No. 3 although he has also come lower down. The result? Tons galore regardless of batting position. With two consecutive tons, he became the only Bangladeshi batsman to have scored a century in World Cups. If his innings against New Zealand is a sign to go by, Shami and his fellow pacers should not expect wickets on a platter.
Ravichandran Ashwin vs Mushfiqur Rahim
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Ravichandran Ashwin has claimed 12 wickets and yet, it is not for this that he is an invaluable asset for India this World Cup. What Ashwin has done exceedingly well is support the pace troika and curtailed the flow of runs after the faster bowlers have had their fill of the top-order batsmen. Stifle the opposition and watch them tumble - that's been Ashwin's mantra Down Under so far.
Mushfiqur Rahim though is not in the habit of tumbling too frequently. The veteran wicket-keeper batsman has hit three fifties in the World Cup so far and is itching for his first ton. At a healthy average of 54 and a lightning strike rate of 113, this diminutive Bangladeshi can ruin the bowling figures of any bowler.