Bangladesh should stress upon the needs to take early wickets against India if they want to create a chance to win the match, which is a ‘do or die’ game for them to stay alive in the World Cup semifinal race, said chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu.
A defeat at the hands of India may not rule Bangladesh’s chance out mathematically but there will be many ifs and buts. Bangladesh will take on India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on July 2.
They will also take on Pakistan on July 5 at Lord’s in another ‘do or die’ contest since Pakistan had already beaten Afghanistan to keep them alive.
“We have to pick early wickets if we want to create any chance of winning the game,” Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said.
India’s batting strength lies in their top three batsmen-Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. And if they are taken out early, India looks vulnerable, a thing that was proved time and again in the past. India didn’t face that trouble so far in this World Cup as someone from top three in every game stood tall.
In the last two matches, their openers didn’t give the side a good start but captain Virat Kohli key to the side unscathed though he is yet to hit a century, which is very rare from him. A century of Kohli looked due after his four consecutive fifty plus knock.
However, the proved template is: If India’s openers can survive first 10 overs, they can cause havoc on opponents. But the problem for Bangladesh is that they remain the worst bowling side in this World Cup in the first 10 overs.
Only once in their six matches in the ongoing World Cup – in the match against New Zealand on June 5 – have Bangladesh taken more than one wicket in the first 10 overs.
Against India that could well be costly, especially if the likes of Rohit Sharma is allowed to settle in, Nannu said.
“You cannot give their openers a chance to settle because once they settle down they make sure to lay a platform for the others to exploit in the end and if that is the case it will be too tough for us,” he said.
Bangladesh have some inspiration to draw on from the World Cup warm-up game against India on May 28. Mustafizur Rahman opened the bowling, got the wicket of the now-injured Shikhar Dhawan and consistently troubled Kohli and Sharma with his pace and swing.
However, his consistency has been a concern in the tournament proper and, if he does open the bowling he should emulate his warm-up game performance, Nannu said.
According to him any loose balls will be punished by Sharma and KL Rahul – who scored a century in the warm-up.
