India bring the challenge
India's national cricket team will touch down at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 9 am today and officially begin their journey in a tour which sporting pundits around the country have already termed as Bangladesh's biggest challenge this year.
The Tigers are scheduled to face bigwigs South Africa and Australia later this year, however, the challenge of facing the mighty Indians in familiar sub-continental conditions makes this series a lot more demanding.
By announcing their strongest possible squad for this series, the Indian cricket board quashed rumours regarding the possible arrival of a second-stringed line-up. Apart from a strong batting order, the current line-up not only includes experienced spinners but also has pacers who can break the 150 kmph mark.
It will be slightly difficult for the hosts to choose their mode of attack in this series. Relying solely on spinners won't do as India's top-order batsmen are good players of spin.
The last time India were in Dhaka to play a bilateral series was in June 2014. Bangladesh's team management had decided to spice up the wickets at Mirpur with bounce and pace. Initially, it seemed as though the plan had worked as the hosts bundled India out for a meagre 105. However, the plan backfired when Bangladesh came on to bat as the hosts succumbed for just 58 runs.
So, while the strategy for the lone Test in Fatullah seems to be set -- the teams are likely to play on a flat deck with the Tigers aiming for a draw -- a cautious plan for the ODIs is required. Whatever be the strategy, the Tigers will know that a positive result in this series would have plenty of benefits.
After all, Bangladesh just need to win one ODI to overtake the West Indies in the rankings and occupy the seventh spot. Also, if they do manage to battle neck-and-neck, it will be a great confidence-booster for the rest of the year.
The events that took place when the two teams met last time, in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, are bound to make this series a lot more exciting. There were a couple of controversial decisions in that knock-out game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground which went against the Tigers and Bangladesh's fans ensured that they were highlighted.
As a result in a bid to curb the over-enthusiasm and not let things to go out of hands, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has put a ban on derogatory placards in the stadium.
After their landing, Virat Kohli and company are scheduled to travel to the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, where the Test will begin on June 10, for their first training session in Dhaka. Bangladesh too are scheduled to have a training session in Fatullah today.
The teams have played seven Tests against each other with India winning six of them. Bangladesh managed to draw the other game, back in 2007 at Mirpur, by dint of rain playing the spoilsport.
In the ODIs Bangladesh have won three out of the 29 meetings, while India have won 25.
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