Sanju Samson to finally get a chance? Will Shivam Dube be dropped? India's likely XI vs Bangladesh
New Delhi: Team India aims to secure their second win in the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage as they face Bangladesh in a crucial match at Kensington Oval. The two teams previously met in a warm-up match, but Saturday's encounter holds greater significance.
India enters the match undefeated, while Bangladesh has struggled with form. Historically, India has dominated this rivalry, yet Bangladesh's resilience makes them a formidable opponent. India showcased a strong performance against Afghanistan in their Super Eights opener and hopes to maintain momentum.
Openers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have shown promising starts but have yet to deliver impactful innings. Meanwhile, Shivam Dube, known for his power-hitting, has struggled to match his IPL form. Although he scored an unbeaten 31 against the USA, it was Suryakumar Yadav who shined in that game. Dube's underperformance might open the door for Sanju Samson in the middle order.
Hardik Pandya's explosive cameo against Afghanistan was a major positive for India. His form is crucial for India's success. On the bowling front, India is expected to retain their current combination, with left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav playing a key role. The Caribbean wickets have favored spinners, and India has effectively utilized three spinners in their lineup.
For Bangladesh, this clash is a must-win following their loss to Australia. Their batting woes persist, with a lack of power-hitters and underperformance from openers Litton Das and Tanzid Khan. Captain Najmul Shanto emphasized the importance of top-order contributions for a better performance against India.
India's likely XI
- Openers: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli
- Middle-order: Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson
- All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
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Rain washes out Super Eights match between New Zealand and Pakistan
Pallekele (Sri Lanka) (PTI): New Zealand and Pakistan shared a point after incessant rain forced the abandonment of the opening T20 World Cup Group 2 Super Eights match here on Saturday.
Amid a slight drizzle, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.
But the steady droplets soon transformed into relentless pouring, forcing the officials to call off the match without a ball being bowled.
Before the skies opened up, Pakistan made one change to their eleven, bringing in Fakhar Zaman in place of Khawaja Nafay.
New Zealand made three changes with skipper Mitchell Santner back after missing the last match against Canada due to a stomach issue and Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi also found a place in the XI.
But all those calculations and combinations will have to wait for another day, as Pakistan will now face England here on February 24.
New Zealand will make a light travel to Colombo to face home side Sri Lanka on February 25.
The washout has also placed both the Kiwis and Pakistan in a relatively tighter place ahead of their remaining two Super Eights matches.
A similar result in any of the following matches, a possibility considering Sri Lanka’s weather pattern, or a defeat can put their semifinal ambitions in serious jeopardy.
