World Cup 2019 warm-up: India seek to bounce back and solve No4 woes against in-form Bangladesh

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • India have some problems to solve in their final warm-up clash.

    Both India and Bangladesh will want to put in a confident display for different reasons when the two teams meet for the final 2019 ICC World Cup warm-up clash at Cardiff on Tuesday.

    India, who are one of the favourites for the tournament, will be seeking to bounce back after being routed by New Zealand in the first official warm-up where their star-studded batting line up was bowed out for just 179 runs.

    Bangladesh, on the other hand, saw their first warm-up game against arch-rivals Pakistan abandoned without a ball being bowled and will be desperate for some match practice before the World Cup gets underway.

    INDIA SEEK KULDEEP REVIVAL

    While they had only a total of 179 to play with in the loss to the Kiwis, India’s bowlers underwhelmed despite being given a strong start by the ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah.

    Wrist-spin has been India’s primary wicket-taking option in recent times when it comes to limited-overs cricket but their duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal barely troubled New Zealand’s batsmen.

    Kuldeep’s ineffectiveness is increasingly worrying for India given his lack of form for KKR in the recently concluded IPL where he was benched for the latter half of the campaign.

    India will not want to solely rely on Bumrah with the ball in the World Cup and they desperately need their spinners to rediscover their best if they are to challenge the likes of England and other top sides.

    India cannot afford to solely rely on Bumrah's brilliance.

    India cannot afford to solely rely on Bumrah’s brilliance.

    EXPERIENCED BANGLADESH SEEK TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM

    Although their warm-up clash with Pakistan was washed out, Bangladesh come into Tuesday’s match on the back of a morale boosting win over West Indies in the recent ODI tri-series final held in Ireland.

    The Tigers performed admirably in conditions which will be very similar to that in England and it was the perfect response to being whitewashed by New Zealand earlier this year.

    Brimming with experienced campaigners such as skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh are a side capable of beating any opposition on their day. They have been steadily become a thorn in the flesh of top international sides in recent years and will be looking to go one better than their 2015 World Cup displays where they reached the quarter-final.

    A win against India could be the statement they need to make before the World Cup gets underway.

    Bangladesh are fresh off their ODI tri-series win in Ireland.

    Bangladesh are fresh off their ODI tri-series win in Ireland.

    INDIA SEEK ANSWERS AT NO4

    It is surprising that India have left it this late to find a steady batsman for the No4 slot but that is the conundrum still facing skipper Virat Kohli just days before the side embarks on their World Cup campaign.

    Against New Zealand, it was KL Rahul who was handed an audition for the role with Vijay Shankar missing out due to an injury. However, Rahul once again failed to grasp his opportunity and his innings was cut short after just 10 deliveries to an innocuous dismissal.

    Shankar should get a go at No4 on Tuesday. India will be hoping that he can seize his chance or they face the possibility of going into the World Cup with question marks remaining over the composition of their playing XI.

    Kohli is running out of time to solve India's No4 puzzle.

    Kohli is running out of time to solve India’s No4 puzzle.

    Recommended