Semi-qualification scenario approaches hyper-complexity
With Zimbabwe and South Africa beating Pakistan and India, respectively, in the Super 12 of the ongoing T20 World Cup, the Group 2 came alive with five of the six teams still in contention to make it to the semifinals of what has already been a fascinating edition of the marquee event.
As it stands after three games, the Netherlands are eliminated but the Dutch side can still make their campaign a success if they are able to stun fourth-placed Zimbabwe today. The African nation, on the other hand, cannot afford to lose if they are to stay in contention.
Today's second fixture feature India and Bangladesh -- who occupy the second and third spot despite gathering equal points as the record 104-run loss suffered by the Tigers against the Proteas damaged their net run-rate (-1.533) beyond repair.
Despite Bangladesh are inferior on paper in their next two outings against India and Pakistan, Bangladesh fans are curious about the several possibilities to how the Tigers' Super 12 fate may pan out ultimately. Moreover, persistent bad weather in Adelaide has caused the last-four qualifying criteria for all the teams, especially Bangladesh, to be a lot more complex.
While two wins in two games guarantees a semifinal as either group champions or runners-up, however, it's worth mentioning that the Tigers' campaign may just hang by a thread even if they lose against India, or the game washes out, today. A defeat again India will mean that Bangladesh must beat Pakistan in their final Super 12 match and bank on South Africa to lose their both games and India to down Zimbabwe later.
Bangladesh-India T20 stats and trivia
India beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in a group-stage encounter to cement a spot in the semifinals of the 2014 T20 World Cup.
India bettered Bangladesh in the 2016 Asia Cup final to clinch their sixth title. It was the first time that the tournament was played in the 20-over format.
The 2016 T20 World Cup encounter between India and Bangladesh saw one of the most thrilling contests where Dhoni's presence of mind and sharp skills helped India win by just one run.
Bangladesh had the Nidahas Trophy final in 2018 all but wrapped up but India, needing 12 runs off the final over, came out victorious, courtesy of Dinesh Karthik who hit the last ball for six to give India a four-wicket win.
India have played only one T20I at the Adelaide Oval, which they won beating Australia by 37 runs in 2016.
Bangladesh's only ever international outing at the Adelaide Oval brought them the famous 15-run victory over England in the 2015 World Cup.
Virat Kohli became only the second player to amass 1000 runs in T20 World Cups in the defeat against South Africa earlier. The batter now needs 16 runs to break Mahela Jayawardene's 1016, which stands as the record for most runs in T20 World Cups.
Shakib Al Hasan, who holds the record for most wickets in T20 World Cups with 44 scalps, has the opportunity to extend his stay at the top. Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga and India's Ravichandran Ashwin each with 29 wickets are the closest to Shakib amongst current players.
Afif Hossain is 24 runs away from reaching 1000 T20I runs. He would be the seventh Bangladesh player to achieve the feat.
Mustafizur Rahman, the second highest wicket-taker in T20Is for Bangladesh, is four wickets away from entering the 100-wicket club. The pacer would become only the second Bangladeshi, and the sixth bowler in the world, to do so.