The WTC is comparatively a brand new ICC event, and is in its third cycle. The event was launched to boost Check cricket, and it has to some extent. India have performed each the finals earlier than this cycle, making them one of the vital profitable groups within the event’s historical past. India misplaced the inaugural version last to New Zealand in 2021, and the final summit conflict to Australia in 2023.
India are once more favorites to make it a hat-trick of finals. However this time they wish to full their trophy cupboards too like their star batter, Virat Kohli.
After breaking the ICC trophy drought with their second T20 World Cup title this 12 months, India now intention to deliver the WTC title house.
They now start their last stretch of the ‘Highway to Lord’s’, the ultimate is scheduled on the iconic venue in June subsequent 12 months, with the two-match Check sequence in opposition to a buoyant Bangladesh. The guests are on a excessive after their historic sequence win over Pakistan, their first in opposition to their Asian rivals.
India have by no means misplaced a Check match in opposition to Bangladesh, and the World No.2 are once more favourites in opposition to the ninth ranked neighbours. However within the WTC standings the hole shouldn’t be as huge because the Check rankings. India are on prime, and Bangladesh are within the fourth spot, with the highest two groups scheduled to play the one-off last at Lord’s subsequent 12 months.
Historic Check information for India and Bangladesh
India have extra win share than loss in opposition to 5 of the Check taking part in groups out of ten opponents they’ve performed within the longest-format of the sport. However they’ve been most dominant in opposition to Bangladesh, aside from Afghanistan in opposition to whom they’ve performed only one match and received it. India have received 11 of the 13 matches in opposition to Bangladesh, with the remaining two matches ending in attracts.
And for Bangladesh too, the Indian crew is among the solely two groups they have not registered a win in Exams, with the opposite being South Africa. Pakistan have been the third earlier than their current tour, the place they registered a historic 2-Zero sweep in Pakistan.
Bangladesh are excessive on confidence after their historic sequence win over Pakistan and it’ll positively give them confidence in opposition to India.
What does the WTC type information say…
Bangladesh: Six matches – three wins – three defeats – 45.83 share factors
Bangladesh, as talked about, are coming off a historic sequence sweep in opposition to Pakistan, which propelled them to fourth within the WTC standings. They’ve 45.83 share factors, and are very a lot within the rivalry for the finals, although the route is hard for them.
On this WTC cycle, Bangladesh began with a two-match house sequence in opposition to New Zealand in November final 12 months. They started with a bang, defeating the previous WTC champions by 150 runs within the first match. However they misplaced out on a possibility to win the sequence and suffered a four-wicket defeat within the second match. Their subsequent house sequence in opposition to Sri Lanka didn’t pan out as desired, and so they have been comprehensively overwhelmed by the guests in each the matches.
However Bangladesh stored themselves alive within the WTC last race with the now well-known 2-Zero sweep in opposition to Pakistan away from house. They defeated Pakistan by 10 wickets and 6 wickets in Rawalpindi. However they’ve a tricky process in hand in opposition to the Indian aspect who haven’t misplaced a Check sequence at house for greater than a decade.
India: 9 matches – six wins – two defeats – one draw – 68.52 share factors
After shedding the second consecutive WTC finals in opposition to Australia in June final 12 months, India started the present cycle in earnest. They toured West Indies in July 2023 itself, to play two-match sequence. India began with an innings win in opposition to the Windies within the first Check, earlier than drawing the second match. It was the one drawn Check up to now for India on this cycle.
India visited South Africa subsequent, in 2023 12 months finish for his or her subsequent project. They suffered an innings defeat within the Boxing Day Check in opposition to the Proteas, however bounced again to win the second by seven wickets to degree the sequence 1-1. A reasonably good end result for India, retaining in thoughts their observe report in South Africa.
India then hosted England for a five-Check sequence. The hosts misplaced the primary Check narrowly by 28 runs, but it surely turned out to be the much-needed wakeup name for them. India bounced again to win the following 4 matches to not solely clinch the sequence 4-1 however to firmly put themselves on observe to their third successive WTC finals.
What can we count on from the groups
Bangladesh are coming off a morale boosting sequence win final month, which implies they’re in good red-ball type, and their gamers are within the much-needed way of thinking for the grinds of a five-day contest.
Whereas, India haven’t performed Check cricket for greater than six months, with their final red-ball contest approach again in February in opposition to England. Their gamers are principally within the white-ball mindset, and even there their final worldwide outings have been a 0-2 defeat in opposition to Sri Lanka in three-match ODI sequence.
To make the squad red-ball prepared, a lot of the crew members participated within the home Duleep Trophy recreation, aside from the senior most members of the crew. Will it make them prepared for the five-day grind, solely time will inform because the Bangladesh sequence kicks off on Thursday, 19th September.
Few India vs Bangladesh Exams stats forward of the sequence:
Prime Indian run-getters in opposition to Bangladesh
- Sachin Tendulkar: M 7 | I 9 | R 820 | HS 248* | Ave 136.66 | 5x100s
- Rahul Dravid: M 7 | I 10 | R 560 | HS 160 | Ave 70.00 | 3x100s | 1x50s
- Cheteshwar Pujara: M 5 | I 8 | R 468 | HS 102* | Ave 78.00 | 1x100s | 5x50s
- Virat Kohli: M 6 | I 9 | R 437 | HS 204 | Ave 54.62 | 2x100s
- Gautam Gambhir: M 4 | I 6 | R 381 | HS 139 | Ave 76.20 | 2x100s | 1x50s
Prime Bangladesh run-getters in opposition to India
- Mushfiqur Rahim: M 8 | I 15 | R 604 | HS 127 | Ave 43.14 | 2x100s | 2x50s
- Mohammad Ashraful: M 6 | I 11 | R 386 | HS 158* | Ave 42.88 | 1x100s | 2x50s
- Shakib Al hasan: M 8 | I 14 | R 376 | HS 84 | Ave 26.85 | 2x50s
- Mahmudullah: M 5 | I 10 | R 347 | HS 96* | Ave 43.37 | 3x50s
- Tamim Iqbal: M 4 | I 8 | R 296 | HS 151 | Ave 42.28 | 1x100s | 1x50s
Prime Indian wicket-takers in opposition to Bangladesh
- Zaheer Khan: M 7 | I 14 | W 31 | BBI 7/87 | BBM 10/149 | Ave 24.25 | SR 38.2 | 5WH 2
- Ishant Sharma: M 7 | I 13 | W 25 | BBI 5/22 | BBM 9/78 | Ave 20.88 | SR 38.8 | 5WH 1
- Ravichandran Ashwin: M 6 | I 11 | W 23 | BBI 5/87 | BBM 6/137 | Ave 26.78 | SR 53.8 | 5WH 1
- Umesh Yadav: M 6 | I 12 | W 22 | BBI 5/53 | BBM 8/82 | Ave 21.04 | SR 38.9 | 5WH 1
- Irfan Pathan: M 2 | I 4 | W 18 | BBI 6/51 | BBM 11/96 | Ave 11.88 | SR 21.0 | 5WH 3
Prime Bangladesh wicket-takers in opposition to India
- Shakib Al Hasan: M 8 | I 12 | W 21 | BBI 5/62 | BBM 7/174 | Ave 37.95 | SR 64.6 | 5WH 1
- Mohammad Rafique: M 5 | I 7 | W 15 | BBI 4/156 | BBM 4/126 | Ave 46.40 | SR 88.0
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz: M 5 | I 7 | W 14 | BBI 5/63 | BBM 6/124 | Ave 45.71 | SR 67.6 | 5WH 1
- Shahadat Hossain: M 3 | I 5 | W 12 | BBI 5/71 | BBM 6/124 | Ave 26.75 | SR 40.5 | 5WH 1
- Taijul Islam: M 6 | I 9 | W 12 | BBI 4/74 | BBM 4/88 | AV 63.50 | SR 115.8