India needs a win to secure its place in the final when it takes on Bangladesh in its second Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai on Wednesday, 24 September. The Super 4 table looks congested after Pakistan bounced back from their hammering against India to beat Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, and India will want to avoid being dragged into the scramble.
Yet they could face their sternest challenge against a side that has pushed them close in major tournaments before. Bangladesh come into the contest on the back of a statement victory over Sri Lanka, who had gone unbeaten in the group stages. Having just sneaked into the Super 4s, the former finalists will feel buoyant in the build-up to the big clash.
India boasts an overwhelmingly positive record against Bangladesh in T20Is, with 18 wins and just a single defeat, that coming in 2019. Last year, India swept Bangladesh 3-0 in a home T20I series, only months after a commanding 50-run win at the T20 World Cup. In the Asia Cup, India has won 13 of their 15 encounters. However, their most recent meeting in the competition resulted in a shock defeat for Bangladesh in the 50-over format in 2023.
India will undoubtedly begin Wednesday’s match as overwhelming favourites. However, Bangladesh, in Dubai’s sluggish conditions, may well provide a sterner test than the others in this tournament. India is unlikely to tinker with their winning combination. Talk of resting Jasprit Bumrah before the final was dismissed by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate in Tuesday’s press conference in Dubai.
He also confirmed that India will continue to back Sanju Samson in the middle order, quashing speculation. Axar Patel, who suffered a blow to the head while fielding against Pakistan, is expected to receive clearance to play on Wednesday.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, are sweating over skipper Litton Das after he took a knock to the rib cage in training on the eve of the match. His availability will be decided on the day. With back-to-back fixtures against India and Pakistan, Bangladesh will need to tread carefully with their call on Litton, who has been one of their standout performers in the tournament.
Bangladesh are also considering replacing Shoriful Islam with express pacer Tanzim Sakib, one of the leading wicket-takers in last year’s bilateral series against India and already impressive in the group stage of this Asia Cup. Bangladesh, if beaten, will be left to contest a virtual knockout against Pakistan on Thursday.
IND vs BAN, Asia Cup Super 4: Probable XIs
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das (wicketkeeper/captain), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
