Bangladesh vs India T20 Preview: Battle in Colombo | Hollywoodbets Sports Blog

Bangladesh are on the hunt for a solid start to this demanding tournament, but they’ll be without their brilliant all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who has been sidelined due to injury.

India, on the other hand, are eager to bounce back from their opening defeat to Sri Lanka, aiming to justify their bold choice of resting some key players.

Match Details
Bangladesh vs India
Thursday, 8 March
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
15:30 SAST

 

Historically, Bangladesh have yet to defeat India in T20 internationals, losing all five previous encounters. Yet, this weakened Indian squad offers Bangladesh their best shot so far. Without Shakib Al Hasan, their attack and batting depth have taken a hit.

Captain Mohammad Mahmudullah steps in for the injured Shakib, with Tamim Iqbal focusing on his batting alone. Bangladesh will need big contributions from Tamim to chase or set competitive totals, aiming for 170-plus against a strong Indian bowling attack.

Their ace pacer, Mustafizur Rahman, ranked seventh among T20I bowlers, must rely on clever variations especially in the crucial powerplay overs. He will face tough opposition from openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

Bangladesh will look to prove their mettle as the shortest format often offers them the best chance to punch above their weight. Their last T20I at this Colombo ground saw a landmark win over Sri Lanka in April last year.

India’s decision to rest stars like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni hasn’t paid off yet, with their weakened bowling attack especially evident in the loss to Sri Lanka. Backup bowlers must raise their game if India are to bounce back here.

Spinner Washington Sundar is expected to open the bowling again, possibly making use of favourable conditions. He will be key in tackling Bangladesh’s batting lineup during the early powerplay overs.

While India managed to stifle Sri Lanka’s promising starts, they must prevent Bangladesh’s batsmen from gaining similar momentum, especially since Bangladesh have shown vulnerability without Shakib.

Mental toughness is a key advantage for India, who will look to exploit Bangladesh’s fragility. Confident batsmen like Shikhar Dhawan, fresh off a near century, will aim to capitalise on the challenge posed by Bangladesh’s depleted bowling attack.

Expect India to notch their sixth consecutive T20I win over Bangladesh, keeping the momentum in the tri-series while Sri Lanka remain unbeaten so far in this seven-match competition.

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