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
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
