Dubai, Sep 23 (NationPress) Another captivating chapter of the Asia Cup unfolds in Dubai as India faces off against Bangladesh in the Super Fours.

Following a resounding triumph over Pakistan, India enters this match with confidence. Captain Suryakumar Yadav boldly declared that the term “rivalry” is outdated, pointing to India’s overwhelming dominance in their recent encounters.

His remarks, which may be perceived as brash in different circumstances, underscore India’s remarkable performance since early 2024: 32 victories in 35 T20Is, establishing them as one of the strongest T20I squads ever.

On the other hand, Bangladesh arrives with a quietly buoyant spirit. They delivered a shocking performance against Sri Lanka in the initial round, utilizing the slow pitch to their advantage. The duo of Mahedi Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman excelled, their combined 8-0-45-5 obliterating Sri Lanka’s middle order and securing a memorable win.

The challenge now lies in replicating that success against a formidable India side, against whom Bangladesh has an alarming record of 16 losses in 17 T20Is. However, with similar playing conditions anticipated and the scorching heat in Dubai, they hope to turn the tide in their favor.

India’s batting lineup appears unassailable, exemplified by Abhishek Sharma’s dazzling 74 against Pakistan, showcasing his explosive synergy with Shubman Gill. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar further strengthen the team, while the ongoing experiment with Sanju Samson in the middle order continues.

The team management clearly values Samson’s inclusion, even if it necessitates a role adjustment. Initial signs indicated he struggled with an older ball, making this match another potential revelation. He will face Mustafizur’s variations, which are particularly effective on slow pitches.

For Bangladesh, captain Litton Das is expected to be fit despite a back strain that limited his training. They are deliberating whether to maintain Shoriful Islam, who had a costly outing against Sri Lanka, or introduce Tanzim Hasan. Much will depend on their spinners and cutters disrupting India’s flow during the middle overs.

The conditions in Dubai indicate another slow-paced match, with scoring likely to become challenging as the ball softens. With temperatures soaring into the high 30s, stamina and focus will be tested. The statistics heavily favor India, but Bangladesh is aware that one inspired performance could rewrite the narrative.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma.

Bangladesh squad: Litton Das (c), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Shaif Uddin.