When IND VS BAN play in their Champions Trophy opener on Thursday, Al Jazeera closely examines the favorite.
- Who: India vs. Bangladesh
- What: The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
- Where: Dubai, United Arab Emirates’ Dubai International Stadium
- When: February 20, Thursday, at 1pm (09:00 GMT)
- Watch the match live with text and photo analysis from Al Jazeera Sport.
India, the front-runners to win the Champions Trophy, will play Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday to begin the tournament.
Following an agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan over their participation in the tournament, all of India’s matches will take place in the United Arab Emirates rather than Pakistan, which will host the 2025 edition.
After losing to Australia at home, Rohit Sharma’s team would still be somewhat hurt. They were the finalists in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, the final ICC one-day international competition.
The triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup will have somewhat compensated for the 50-over setback. The bitter memories of the Australian triumph in Ahmedabad will only be lessened with a win in the Champions Trophy, where the host country and its fiercest rivals, Pakistan, are the second favorites.
IND vs BAN: Why are India favourites to win the Champions Trophy?
Although India’s dominance in the ICC’s ODI rankings is undoubtedly the cause of their reputation as favorites, the tournament’s location should also work in their favor.
Since all of their games will take place in the United Arab Emirates, including the championship game if they make it there, India will be sure that their spin-strong team can dominate their opponents.
As they attempt to add to their two Champions Trophy wins from 2002 and 2013, India will take this competition very seriously. Also, their two most seasoned players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, may be participating in their final games for the country. What better way for the corresponding 37- and 36-year-olds to go out?
IND vs BAN: What chance do Bangladesh have?
Although the Tigers were then the only team allowed to participate in the Champions Trophy, which was held in 1998 to raise money for non-Test playing nations, Bangladesh hosted the inaugural event.
After entering the competition in the subsequent edition and losing at the first hurdle, they have made significant progress since then.
The Tigers advanced to the Champions Trophy semifinals in England two years after making them to the quarterfinals of the 2015 Cricket World Cup, when they lost to India.
It is not ideal to drop to ninth place in the most recent ICC ODI rankings or to open against India’s power, but the Tigers could roar again this time around with match winners and demonstrated progress in their ranks.
Form guide – India
Earlier this month, India defeated England 3-0 in the ODI series, which was a victory for Rohit Sharma’s team and a setback for all other teams.
Any skepticism regarding the Indians’ 50-over performance was also dispelled. Their most recent ODI series took place in August of last year in Sri Lanka, when the hosts—who are not eligible for this edition—won the three-match series 2-0.
Form guide – Bangladesh
Bangladesh doesn’t enter the tournament with any ODI form. In December of last year, they played the West Indies in their most recent ODI series, which the hosts easily won in three games.
On November 9, during a 2-1 series loss to Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates, they achieved their most recent ODI victory.
IND vs BAN: Head-to-head
In 41 ODI matches, India and Bangladesh have met one another.
Only eight of those 32 games have been won by the Men in Blue, compared to eight by Bangladesh.
The previous five ODI games
- India: L L W W W
- Bangladesh: L W L L L
Bangladesh team news
The injury to all-rounder Shakib al Hasan has hindered Bangladesh.
While the Tigers’ spin department continues to be a strength, the seam attack has been strengthened by the rise of fast bowler Nahid Rana.
India team news
In order to adapt to the conditions in Dubai, India will start with a spin-heavy side that includes Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel.
Mohammed Shami will open the opening with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana competing to replace the injured Jasprit Bumrah.
Bangladesh team
Team: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Towhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan, Nahid Rana
India Team
Team: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.
