World Cup waiting for Bangladesh vs India ‘big match’. The World Cup lay dormant until a pivotal incident ignited its fervor. It was a spectacle in Delhi when Afghanistan scripted its fairy tale. A day after this riveting showdown, Lucknow hosted two former world champions, Australia and Srilanka, desperately seeking redemption after losing their initial matches. Yet, even in this high-stakes encounter, the gallery displayed empty seats, a surprising sight.
World Cup waiting for Bangladesh vs India ‘big match’
A different scene unfolds in Pune on October 19. The key to performing before a packed stadium in this World Cup is a match against India. India-Pakistan clashes transcend the realm of typical cricket encounters. The enthusiasm witnessed during the Ahmedabad match on the 14th can only be rivaled if these two teams meet again in the semi-final or final. Surprisingly, the Conrad Pune swimming pool caretaker, the Bangladesh team’s designated residence, made an intriguing statement. Despite historical and political promotion surrounding India-Pakistan matches, he asserted that, after Pakistan, Bangladesh posed the most formidable challenge for India in this World Cup. It was an audacious claim, especially considering Bangladesh’s two initial losses. Even though Pakistan recently suffered a defeat, this young man remained unwavering.
This notion gained more credibility when, during the Australia-Sri Lanka match, Hindi commentary unexpectedly turned towards the upcoming Bangladesh-India clash. Former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif emphasized that India should not underestimate Bangladesh, recalling their 2-1 series win in the last one-day series in December. He mentioned how Shakib Al Hasan had dismissed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in one over during one of those matches. The co-commentator chimed in with memories of the last Asia Cup match, a contest India lost despite Shubman Gill’s century.
World Cup waiting for Bangladesh vs India
It’s crucial for Bangladesh vs India to note that Star Sports Hindi commentary differs from the more conventional English commentary. It caters to the passionate Indian audience, sometimes embracing nationalistic fervor. So, what drives Kaif’s assertion? The television broadcast answered that question with a telling statistic – the ODI win-loss record for Bangladesh-India matches after the 2019 World Cup. Of the four matches played, Bangladesh emerged victorious in three, with India managing just one, and that too after losing a series in Bangladesh. The television screen silently advocated for Kaif’s sentiment, reinforcing that Bangladesh is a formidable team.
The impending big match in this World Cup is India against Bangladesh, and the Bangladeshi team has used this break to recharge. Upon their arrival in Pune on the 14th from Chennai, the players refrained from wielding a bat or ball. Some utilized this period for much-needed rest. Mahmudullah dedicated significant time to the gym, with Hasan Mahmud and Mehdi Hasan eventually joining him. Sridharan Sriram, the Bangladesh team consultant, explored Pune’s largest shopping mall, hinting at a potential team outing in the afternoon and evening. The stage is set, and the World Cup has awakened to the promise of an electrifying encounter.
Before this Bangladesh vs India match, another trio of cricketers left their hotel. The hotel’s gym boasted a wide array of equipment, yet Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, and Miraj chose to venture to the city’s state-of-the-art gym, accompanied by assistant coach Nick Pothas. Later in the evening, the coaching staff embarked on a journey to Pune to explore a cricket museum curated by a former cricketer. While the invitation was extended to the cricketers, they displayed limited interest, except for Hasan Mahmud.
The Pune stadium lies quite a distance from the city, requiring approximately one and a half to two hours of travel along the Mumbai-Pune highway from the hotel. The exact commute duration will become apparent today as Bangladesh gears up for its first practice session in Pune, scheduled for 2 p.m. This session assumes heightened importance in assessing the injury status of Captain Shakib Al Hasan. Despite a thigh injury sustained during his batting against New Zealand, Shakib persevered to bowl his full quota of 10 overs. On that very night, after undergoing a thigh scan, he sought the counsel of a renowned ophthalmologist in Chennai. One might wonder why eye consultation matters in the lead-up to this match. The more pressing question is whether Shakib’s thigh injury might preclude him from playing against India. While he reports no pain and can walk without issue, strolling on the field is entirely different. Shakib’s condition will become evident as he first strides today, post-injury.
Other Info : World Cup waiting for Bangladesh vs India ‘big match’.
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Information from sources within the Bangladesh team suggests that there are no doubts about Shakib’s participation in this match. Irrespective of his fitness assessments leading up to the World Cup, one thing appears sure: Shakib is determined to play this match, even if not at full fitness unless subsequent matches are seriously threatened.
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