India and Bangladesh gear up for a dead rubber clash in the Asia Cup Super Fours on Friday. India have reached the final with wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka, respectively. Meanwhile, Bangladesh have already been ousted and will play for pride. It’s a good chance for India to rest senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. Also, Jasprit Bumrah can be given a break with an eye on the final. Mohammed Shami, who hasn’t played a match, can open the bowling. Suryakumar Yadav can be looked upon in the middle order, having warmed the bench. Bangladesh would want a full-strength side and give it their all. Batting is an issue, and this is something skipper Shakib Al Hasan also highlighted. Fans would like to see more expressive cricket from the team. India enjoy a strong record against Bangladesh in ODIs. Out of 39 matches, the Men in Blue have pocketed 31 wins, besides losing seven (NR: 1). India won’t be taking this contest lightly with a view to the ICC Cricket World Cup at home next month. Altogether, we have a good contest on offer with several key player battles on offer.
#1 Mohammed Shami vs Mohammad Naim
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami will be keen to showcase his strengths, and a solid performance could help his confidence. In 3 matches versus Bangladesh, Shami has managed to claim seven scalps at 22.14. Overall, the right-arm pacer has 163 ODI scalps from 91 matches. He holds an average of 26.00. As per ESPNcricinfo, Shami is closing in on 50 ODI scalps against left-handed batsmen. He has scalped 49 wickets from 86 innings at 31.24. Shami will face a challenge in the form of Mohammad Naim. New to the set-up, Naim has 95 runs from 8 matches. He averages a paltry 13.57. Across 5 innings, he has been dismissed by right-arm pacers on three occasions. He has scored 42 runs from 71 balls, averaging a dismal 14.00. Shami knows he can rattle Naim.
#2 Mohammed Siraj vs Litton Das
Mohammed Siraj has been superb in ODIs for India and is inching toward the 50-wicket mark. He has 47 scalps at 21.10. Siraj will share the new ball, and he will target Litton Das, who will come in at number three. Siraj has had the upper hand over Das in ODIs. Across three innings, Siraj has claimed Das’s wicket on two occasions. He has bowled 22 deliveries, conceding 17 runs, besides averaging a solid 8.50. Das has 2244 ODI runs from 74 matches at 33.49. Against the Men in Blue, Das has scored 305 runs at 33.88. With Mushfiqur Rahim set to miss the match, Das has added responsibility being a senior figure.
#3 Kuldeep Yadav vs Shakib Al Hasan
Kuldeep Yadav is enjoying himself and has turned out to be India’s match-winner with the ball. After a massive fifer versus Pakistan in the Super Fours, he claimed four Lankan batters in the very next match. Kuldeep owns 150 ODI scalps from 88 matches at 25.64. Versus Bangladesh, he has claimed four scalps from three games at 33.00. Kuldeep will be instrumental against Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan. In one match, Kuldeep bowled to Shakib, he got the latter’s wicket. Shakib scored nine from 12 balls against Kuldeep in that match. In another interesting piece of stats, Shakib averages 48.82 versus left-arm spinners, being dismissed 17 times. Kuldeep has 62 wickets versus left-handed batters, averaging 22.66.
#4 Taskin Ahmed vs Shubman Gill
Bangladesh senior pacer Taskin Ahmed has claimed 90 scalps in 63 ODI games. He averages 29.24. Versus India, the right-arm pacer has 14 scalps from 7 matches at 21.07. He will have his task cut out against Shubman Gill, who rose to a career-best 2nd spot in the ICC ODI Rankings released on Wednesday. Gill has 1591 runs at 61.19. Across 30 innings, he has 931 runs versus right-arm pacers, being dismissed 16 times. He averages 58.18. On the other hand, Ahmed has enjoyed more success versus right-handed batters, accounting for 71 scalps at 25.14.
#5 Shakib Al Hasan vs KL Rahul
Bangladesh’s premier spinner, Shakib, has all the attributes to disrupt Indian batters with his offerings. India lost all their 10 wickets to spin versus Sri Lanka, and Shakib, who has claimed 307 scalps, would want to make things count. Shakib will be challenged by KL Rahul, who has made a sound return after an injury layoff. Across three innings, Rahul has scored 27 runs versus Shakib, having faced 37 balls. He hasn’t been dismissed yet. Rahul averages a solid 71.50 left-arm spinners in ODI cricket. He has 286 runs from 297 balls, being dismissed on four occasions across 21 innings. Shakib has fared well versus India, claiming 28 scalps at 32.28. Rahul has scored 172 runs from four matches at 47.00. He has hit two fifties.
#6 Shoriful Islam vs Suryakumar Yadav
Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam has given a strong impression since coming to the ODI scheme of things in 2021. In 24 matches, the right-arm pacer has claimed 33 scalps at 24.84. Shoriful is yet to face India, and this will be his debut. Shoriful can prove to be a handful for Suryakumar Yadav, who hasn’t got the desired numbers in ODIs, averaging just 24.33. He can be a bit nervous. SKY has been dismissed on 9 occasions by right-arm pacers in ODIs, averaging 29.66. Shoriful has enjoyed a lot of success versus right-handed batters, purchasing 28 out of his 33 scalps against them.
#7 Hasan Mahmud vs Hardik Pandya
23-year-old right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud has managed 24 scalps at 27.95. He has had a promising start to his career. He comes into this match having claimed a three-for versus Sri Lanka. Mahumd has 18 scalps against right-handed batters and will want to stem the flow of runs at the death versus someone like Hardik Pandya, who will go hard. Pandya has so far managed 1758 ODI runs at 33.80. Versus right-arm pacers, Pandya has clocked 992 runs from 931 balls, averaging 33.06. Notably, the all-rounder has been dismissed on 30 occasions.