As they prepare for today's (Oct 19) match at the MCA Stadium in Pune, Team India is chasing their fourth win in a row in the World Cup. Bangladesh enters the game in a tougher spot, having lost their last two matches after a strong start to the tournament. When looking at their World Cup history, India holds the upper hand with three wins from four matchups, while Bangladesh's only triumph came in 2007. Interestingly, Bangladesh has been more competitive recently, winning three of the last four ODIs they played against India, including a notable win during last month's Asia Cup.
Team India is aiming to register a fourth-straight win in the ongoing World Cup tournament when they take on Bangladesh in today’s (October 19) clash at MCA Stadium in Pune. Bangladesh, on the other hand, kicked off their campaign with a win but lost their last two games. India and Bangladesh have met four times in ODI World Cups, with India winning three. Bangladesh’s only victory over India occurred in the 2007 World Cup. Bangladesh has won three of the last four ODIs against India, including an Asia Cup Super-Four clash last month.
Despite India's success, some world-class players are currently sidelined. Former BCCI selector MSK Prasad discussed the possibility of Mohammed Shami breaking into the starting XI. He noted that the team is currently employing a 'horses for courses' strategy, picking players based on the venue, which has proven effective. He pointed out that Ashwin was utilized in Chennai, whereas Shardul was the choice for Delhi and Ahmedabad. Prasad mentioned that in the most recent game, Shardul was barely needed, bowling only two overs as the rest of the attack took control.
Prasad suggests that Shami would be the natural choice if the team decides to rotate Siraj, reminding everyone of Shami's dominant five-wicket performance against Australia in the pre-World Cup ODIs. The selector also clarified the current backup plan: Suryakumar Yadav is the designated replacement for Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan is ready to step in for Shubman Gill at the top, and Shardul remains the preference for flat pitches. If the surface offers turn, Ravichandran Ashwin will be the one to step in, Prasad explained.