Champions Trophy: India Sets Sights on Strong Start Against Bangladesh (Preview)
Click to start listening
Synopsis
India, aiming for a strong start in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, will face Bangladesh in their Group A opener at Dubai International Stadium. With crucial matches ahead, a win is vital for India's title aspirations.
Key Takeaways
- India is the favorite to win the tournament.
- Bangladesh poses a challenge with its fast bowling lineup.
- Pitches in Dubai may favor spinners later in the game.
- India’s squad includes five spinners and four pacers.
- A victory against Bangladesh is crucial for India's momentum.
Dubai, Feb 19 (NationPress) As the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy kicks off, India, the tournament favorites, will launch their Group A journey against Bangladesh under the cloudy skies of the Dubai International Stadium this Thursday.
With only two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals, each match is vital for the Rohit Sharma-led squad to secure victories and bolster their chances of clinching the title, which they last won in 2013.
India arrives with positive momentum after achieving a 3-0 ODI series victory over England at home. In contrast, Bangladesh enters as the underdog but possesses capable fast bowlers like Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed who can pose challenges for Indian batsmen.
Interestingly, beyond the teams, the pitch conditions in Dubai are a point of interest for global fans. The stadium has hosted a variety of cricket events, from last year’s Women’s T20 World Cup to the Men’s U19 Asia Cup and ILT20, which suggests that the pitches might play slowly.
However, reports indicate the availability of two fresh pitches in Dubai that could provide early support for pacers, transitioning to favor spinners during the middle overs. If this scenario unfolds, India’s strategy will face significant scrutiny, especially with a squad featuring five spinners and four pace options, including Hardik Pandya.
Should India secure a win against Bangladesh, it would positively impact their upcoming matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. Historically, Dubai has not been kind to India in ICC events, but fortunes may shift for Rohit & Co. starting Thursday.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakravarthy.
Bangladesh: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.
On-field umpires: Adrian Holdstock and Paul Reiffel
TV umpire: Richard Illingworth
Fourth umpire: Michael Gough
Match Referee: David Boon
Time: The match will commence at 2:30pm IST.
Where to watch: All matches of the Champions Trophy 2025 will be aired on Star Sports Network and streamed live on JioHotstar.
