That’s all for today, though we’ll be back in the morning for a big one: Australia v Pakistan. Goodnight!
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As does the Indian captain Rohit Sharma
Yeah it was a good win. We didn’t start well but we pulled it back in the middle and at the end. Our fielding has been superb and we continued that today. It’s something that’s within your control. We’ve got a fielding medal to give out after each game, it’s something nice within the group. Whoever ends up with the most, there’s something special for them.
The effort was great in the field and the bowlers are smart enough to know what lengths and lines to bowl. [Ravindra Jadeja] was brilliant with the ball, and he took a great catch as well. But I guess a hundred is a hundred, you can’t beat that.
[On Hardik Pandya] He pulled up a bit sore. There’s no major damage but with an injury like that you have to assess it day by day. We hope he pulls up okay tomorrow.
The Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto speaks
India are always a very good side and they played better cricket today. We didn’t play our best game. Tanzid batted really well but we didn’t finish well enough with the bat. [On Shakib] We hope he’ll be fit for the South Africa match. I hope the batting group takes responsibility in that game.
The player of the match is Virat Kohli
[You stole the award off Ravindra Jadeja] Sorry for stealing it from Jaddu! I wanted to make a big contribution. I’ve had a few fifties in World Cups and I haven’t really converted them, so I wanted to finish the game off this time round.
[On the two free hits at the start of his innings] I was telling Shubman, if you dream about a situation like that, you’ll just go back to sleep, you won’t think it’s real. It calms you down and gets you into the innings. The pitch was pretty good. It allowed to play my game: hit the gaps, run hard and get the boundaries when needed.
There’s a great atmosphere in the changing-room. We’re loving each other’s company, and it’s translating on the field. We understand it’s a long tournament and you need to create some momentum. It’s a special feeling playing at home. We just want to make the most of it.
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INDIA WIN BY SEVEN WICKETS WITH 51 BALLS REMAINING
41.3 overs: India 261-3 (Kohli 103, Rahul 34) Nasum bowls a leg-side wide – except the umpire doesn’t call it. What’s going on here? Was it because Kohli offered no shot?
It wouldn’t matter if it had been called wide: Kohli finishes the match, and brings up his hundred, by lifting a full toss into the crowd at midwicket! It’s his 48th ODI ton – but his first in a successful World Cup runchase. He didn’t look interested for most of the innings, but then suddenly he went from first gear to fifth and hit the last 29 runs off the bat.
I’ve never seen a finish quite like that. It was a beautiful moment for one of the all-time greats, though I’m still not sure about the merits of managing a hundred in that way. It’s fair to say the crowd in Pune don’t share those reservations.
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40th over: India 255-3 (Kohli 97, Rahul 34) Kohli, who was on 74 with 26 needed to win , turns down another single. The crowd are loving this. Mother Cricket’s thoughts are as yet unavailable.
A slower ball bouncer from Hasan is called wide, which leads to boos from the supporters. This is hilarious, exhilarating - but also indulgent and arguably a bit disrespectful. I suppose he’s earned the right.
Kohli steals a two to the leg side, then inside edges a hack just past leg stump. Five to win, six for Kohli’s hundred. He steals another two on the leg side, and now he’s four runs away with three needed.
Weirdly, Kohli turns down a single off the fifth ball, as if KL Rahul doesn’t know how to play a defensive stroke. But it doesn’t matter, because he is able to push the last delivery to long on and keep the strike. Two to win, three for Kohli’s hundred.
40th over: India 248-3 (Kohli 92, Rahul 34) It’s fair to say Virat Kohli doesn’t struggle with finishlineitis. He sweeps Nasum fiercely for four, which takes him to 85 with 15 needed for victory. Anyone got a calculator?
Rahul turns down a single, which makes it abundantly clear what is about to happen. Kohli sets the crowd alight by slog sweeping for six before driving the last ball down the ground for a single. Kohli has 92, India need eight to win.
39th over: India 238-3 (Kohli 81, Rahul 34) Hasan Mahmud returns to the attack. Kohli, who has dealt exclusively in singles since the 29th over, suddenly decides to launch a full delivery over long on for six. And why not. Hasan’s figures are pretty ugly (7-0-59-1), but they don’t tell the story of an impressive spell to Rohit Sharma.
India’s next game could be a good one – they play New Zealand, the only other unbeaten team, in Dharamsala on Sunday. Bangladesh meet South Africa in a must-win game in Mumbai on Tuesday.
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38th over: India 229-3 (Kohli 73, Rahul 33) Six singles off Mehidy, who ends a good spell of bowling with figures of 10-0-47-2.
“This game,” says Mark Beadle, “really could do with Rishabh Pant.”
Any game, in any sport, could do with Rishabh Pant.
37th over: India 223-3 (Kohli 70, Rahul 30) What’s especially encouraging for India is the form of their spine: Rohit, Kohli, Jadeja, Bumrah and Kuldeep. All five have been close to their best, which has allowed the younger players to ease into their first World Cup.
I should probably add KL Rahul to that list. He doesn’t have an average yet, so well is he batting, and he has just hooked successive deliveries from Shoriful for six and four.
36th over: India 209-3 (Kohli 68, Rahul 18) Tanzid saves a run or two with a fine diving stop at midwicket. Three from the over. I feel like I’ve typed that a lot in the last hour.
35th over: India 206-3 (Kohli 66, Rahul 17) Shoriful returns to the attack. Kohli, who doesn’t seem bothered about going for a hundred, rotates strike so that Rahul can swish a pull for four.
“The most interesting thing about this match is the camera (I am assured by someone who knows) picking out S Tendulkar watching Shubman Gill,” says Gary Naylor. “But not Sachin, his daughter, Sara. Bit of condemnation of a lacklustre World Cup to date really.”
At least we’re spared the premature Best Eva pieces that usually crop up after four days of the football World Cup.
34th over: India 201-3 (Kohli 65, Rahul 13) Yet another single brings up the 200. And that’s drinks.
33rd over: India 198-3 (Kohli 63, Rahul 12) Mahmudullah comes on to bowl some occasional offspin. He’s had a good day: runs, catches – and almost a wicket when Rahul clatters his third ball not far short of deep midwicket. Instead it goes for a single, as do the other five balls. True story.
32nd over: India 192-3 (Kohli 60, Rahul 9) Four singles from Mehidy’s seventh over. For much of this innings Bangladesh have bowled with accuracy and purpose. It feels like a 350 pitch, though, so they had no chance.
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31st over: India 188-3 (Kohli 59, Rahul 7) This isn’t a run-chase for Virat Kohli, it’s a run-stroll. He’s just tapping singles on both sides of the wicket and smacking the odd bad ball for four. India need 69 from 114 balls.
“Results and statistics and records steal from the real performers their deserved spot in the limelight,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “If number of centuries or the total runs scored is going to be your yardstick you will never know the supreme elegance of a G R Viswanath.”
Quite. See also Victor Trumper, Kim Hughes, Learie Constantine, etc. That would be a fun XI to pick – brilliant and/or elegant players with a Test batting average below 40 and/or a bowling average above 30. I might do mine before the next OBO.
30th over: India 184-3 (Kohli 57, Rahul 5) KL Rahul skids back to cut Mehidy off middle stump for four. Imagine having the confidence and ability to play a shot like that when you’re on nought.
“But have India, and New Zealand for that matter, peaked too early?” says Simon McMahon. “And are England, or indeed Australia, about to time their run just right?”
I literally haven’t a clue. I don’t think New Zealand are nailed on for the semis by the way, impressive though they have been. It could become quite a dogfight. At the risk of sticking my neck out, my hunch is that the semi-finalists will be India plus three others.
WICKET! India 178-3 (Iyer c Mahmudullah b Mehidy 19)
Shreyas Iyer holes out to cow corner. It was nicely bowled by Mehidy, who did him in the flight, but Iyer looks annoyed to have left 30-odd runs out there. He goes for 19 from 25 balls.
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29th over: India 178-2 (Kohli 56, Iyer 19) Mustafizur returns to the attack. He bowls five consecutive dot balls to Kohli, who still has the final word with a gorgeous push drive through extra cover for four. He’s batting with an intimidating certainty, and those three years without a century feel a long time ago.
“I think George Dobell has it right about this England team,” says Digvijay Yadav. “They have been superb (one World Cup in each format within a four-year period) and that needs to be acknowledged if the wheels do come off. Unfortunately, as he also said, England’s golden eras are shorter than Australia’s and often come to calamitous ends.”
Yes, though this golden era lasted longer than most, in any sport. Usually with English teams it’s a golden month rather than an era. I completely agree with George. Even if this World Cup is one long 1996-2015 tribute act, they’ll still be one of the best white-ball teams of all time. It’s not just about the success; they’ve changed forever the way cricket is played in England.
28th over: India 174-2 (Kohli 52, Iyer 19) Nasum returns to the attack and is milked – we need some synonyms for that – for three more. The match is over, we’re just doing admin now.
“Actually, yeah, I undercooked that a bit,” says Mark Beadle of his prediction in the 21st over. “Got distracted making choco cookies with my daughter.”
Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparklemotion.
27th over: India 171-2 (Kohli 50, Iyer 18) Kohli pulls Hasan impatiently through midwicket for four to move to 49, and a quick single takes him to the most predictable half-century of the day. He made a flying start, aided by a couple of free hits, and then settled down for the longer haul: 34 from the first 25 balls, 16 from the next 23.
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26th over: India 164-2 (Kohli 44, Iyer 17) “Pandya’s injury will probably bring Ashwin back,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “A top-class bowler and even has five Test centuries to his name if I recall.”
Yep I think that’s what will happen, perhaps with Shami replacing Thakur in certain games. Every captain wants a decent sixth bowler and the top five are in such form that India don’t really need a lower order. So far in this tournament, Nos 6-11 have faced a grand total of eight balls in four games.
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25th over: India 161-2 (Kohli 42, Iyer 16) Shreyas Iyer is fine, and he proves the point by muscling a pull for four. India’s requirement is into double figures: 96 from 150 balls.
24.3 overs: India 156-2 (Kohli 41, Iyer 12) The impressive Hasan Mahmud returns to the attack, though it feels a bit late. Shreyas Iyer takes a dodgy single to mid-on and is well short when the throw misses the the stumps. It then bounces up to hit Iyer on the leg, so there’s a break in play while he receives treatment.
24th over: India 154-2 (Kohli 40, Iyer 11) The alternative for India is to play specialists: bring in Suryakumar Yadav and Mohamed Shami for Pandya and Shardul Thakur, then hope none of the five bowlers suffer an injury. Their flying start to the tournament gives them a bit of a safety net for the rest of the league stage, and if Pandya is still unfit come the semi-final they could call up a replacement allrounder.
23rd over: India 150-2 (Kohli 38, Iyer 9) Shoriful is thumped to deep extra for two by Shreyas Iyer. Even Iyer, the least celebrated of the Indian batters, has an ODI average of 47 with a strike rate of 97.
The commentators are talking about what India might do if Pandya misses the next few games with his ankle injury. It would be a risk to play six batters because none of them are reliable sixth bowlers, so they may decide to pack the lower middle order with Jadeja, Ashwin and Thakur from Nos 6-8.
22nd over: India 146-2 (Kohli 37, Iyer 6) “I got a bit wistful there at your mention of Gary Anderson,” says Simon McMahon. “ I mean, I know he’s still around, but watching him these days induces the same feeling in me that I get when watching Andy Murray play tennis. He’s just not what he once was. Do you think the same is true of the current England 50-over side, or have reports of their death been greatly exaggerated?”
I’d say they’re definitely past their best, but they were past their best a year ago and they won the World T20. They looked pretty ragged at the start of that tournament too. While there are a few worrying signs, I’d be loath to write them off. They probably need to change the balance and mindset of the team though. One of the ex-England skippers in the media need to take a hit and publicly call Jonny Bairstow a waste of space. That would get him going, and he sets the tone in the absence of Jason Roy.
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21st over: India 143-2 (Kohli 35, Iyer 5) Nobody has scored more runs in successful ODI chases than Virat Kohli: 5588, with a startling 22 hundreds. Only two other players are in double figures, Sachin Tendulkar (14) and Rohit Sharma (12).
Shoriful appeals for a leg-side catch when Shreys misses an attempted hook. The umpire isn’t interested and Bangladesh decide agaist a review. I’d like to see UltraEdge though.
Update: we’ve seen UltraEdge and it was nowhere near the bat or glove.
“So,” says Mark Beadle, “which over do we have in the sweepstake for when India wrap this up? 32?”
I’ll go for the 39th, and 38.4 if you want to be really precise.
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20th over: India 142-2 (Kohli 34, Iyer 5) Hardik Pandya will only bat in an emergency because of his ankle injury, so Bangladesh will be right back in this game if they can take six quick wickets.
The wicket of Kohli would be a big start. He looks in serious touch and spanks a wide delivery from Mehidy for four. A single down the ground takes him to 34 from only 25 balls.
Shreyas Iyer edges the last delivery past Mushfiqur through the vacant slip cordon for four. Surely Bangladesh need to attack the new batter. In fact Mushfiqur got a touch on it, so it counts as a dropped catch, though it was very tough.
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WICKET! India 132-2 (Gill c Mahmudullah b Miraz 53)
A fine catch from Mahmudullah at cow corner. Gill charged Miraz and dragged the ball over midwicket and towards the boundary. Mahmudullah danced round the boundary, showing great awareness to stay just inside the sponge while also taking a two-handed catch. His footwork was really deft.
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19th over: India 130-1 (Gill 51, Kohli 29) Shoriful Islam returns to the attack. Gill tips and runs to reach a stylish half-century from 52 balls. It’s his 16th 50+ score in just 38 ODI innings, which is obscene. Nobody from a Test-playing nation gets close to his ODI average of 66.
“You talked earlier about this WC so far being nothing but mismatches,” says Ewan Glenton, “and also said that India could be a match for a World XI right now; combining the two references, presumably if Graham Gooch were commentating on the tournament he’d say that every game it’s like there’s a World XI in one dressing room and Ilford 2nds in the other.”
Goochie doesn’t get enough credit for his earthy lyricism. “A fart competing with thunder” was another cracker.
18th over: India 125-1 (Gill 49, Kohli 26) The offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz comes on after the drinks break. With the required rate barely four an over, India are very happy to milk singles. Three in that over.
Elegance incarnate
Free hit 🎁
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 19, 2023
Virat Kohli said thank you very much 6️⃣☄️ pic.twitter.com/RGaAsszZ6u
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Never mind the cricket, has anyone watched the Frasier reboot? As someone who adored the show, will it make me sad or happy?
17th over: India 122-1 (Gill 47, Kohli 25) Nasum is milked for seven runs: 111211. India are in total control, and that’s drinks.
16th over: India 115-1 (Gill 44, Kohli 21) Another good over from Mustafizur. The scoreboard doesn’t suggest as much but Bangladesh have bowled pretty well. Trouble is the pitch is an absolute belter and they are playing the best team in the world.
15th over: India 111-1 (Gill 41, Kohli 20) House of Pain’s Jump Around blares out of the tannoy between overs. I wonder what percentage of the crowd thought of Gary Anderson when it came on.
Most are thinking of Virat Kohli. They were chanting his name even when Rohit and Gill were plundering boundaries, and now they are euphorically watching the real thing. A bad misfield at long on gives Kohli a boundary off the first ball from Nasum Ahmed, who has retuned to the attack. Apparently Kohli’s record v left-arm spin isn’t great, hence the bowling change. Liam Dawson must have a good chance of coming into the side when England pl-oh.
14th over: India 106-1 (Gill 41, Kohli 15) A quiet over from Mustafizur; three singles from it. India’s required run-rate is an eminently reasonable 4.19.
“When you mentioned Tom Petty,” says John Starbuck, “was this what you meant?”
Sure was. If there’s one area in which we are clear market leaderes, it’s topical references.
13th over: India 103-1 (Gill 40, Kohli 13) Hasan tries a first-ball yorker to Kohli. It’s slightly too straight and Kohli clips it for two. It’s also a no-ball, which means a free hit. Kohli crashes that through mid-on for four – and it’s another no-ball. Oh, kid.
Kohli launches the second free hit down the ground for six, which takes him to 12 from three balls. Jack Russell eat your heart out.
What a strange over – in many ways it was a triumph for Hasan, yet he disappeared for 23.
WICKET! India 88-1 (Rohit c Hridoy b Mahmud 48)
Rohit Sharma has been bounced out by Hasan Mahmud! It’s a marvellous moment for a young bowler who has been so impressive on his World Cup debut. Rohit hooked the previous ball for a big, statement six, but Hasan was brave enough to go again and Rohit pulled the ball down deep square leg’s throat.
He played imperiously again, hitting seven fours and two sixes in a 40-ball 48. But Hasan won the battle, and not many young bowlers do that against Rohit in white-ball cricket. Any cricket.
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12th over: India 80-0 (Rohit 41, Gill 39) Of all the players who have batted together at least ten times in ODIs, Rohit and Gill have the second highest average (81.50). The highest is - you betcha - Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul with 83.00. Here’s the full list.
Mustafizur replaces Nasum, and Gill flashes his second ball to the left of backward point for four. That might have gone to hand, though it would still have taken some catching.
It's turning into an orgy of boundaries in Pune. Gill times successive fours through midwicket and extra cover, both exquisite shots.
Eighty-three per cent of India’s runs in this innings have been in boundaries: 12x4, 3x6.
11th over: India 68-0 (Rohit 41, Gill 27) Rohit shapes to hook Mahmud then aborts the shot, realising the ball is a bit too quick and a bit too close. The bowling coach Allan Donald applauds on the boundary. This is pretty impressive stuff from Hasan, a 24-year-old playing his first World Cup game.
Rohit is a Tom Petty fan, though, and he makes his point by pulling for four later in the over. It wasn’t his smoothest cross-bat stroke, mind, and I reckon his internal monologue is full of respect for Hasan right now.
10th over: India 63-0 (Rohit 37, Gill 26) There goes Shubman Gill, skipping down the track to muscle Nasum over long on for six. He does it again two balls later, this time clattering it straight back over the bowler’s head. He didn’t even middle it but it was still went the distance.
9th over: India 50-0 (Rohit 37, Gill 13) There was a soupcon of swing for the two left-armers with the new ball. Now? Nuttin. Hasan Mahmud has started accurately, and he has a nice upright action that evokes somebody whose name I’ll remember any second now, but there’s no assistance at all. Two runs from the over, the second of which brings up the fifty partnership.
8th over: India 48-0 (Rohit 36, Gill 12) As John Starbuck said, the first ball of an over is where the cool kids hang out. Rohit sweeps this one from Nasum for four, the third time it his happened in this innings.
Nasum is bowling pretty well, particularly for a finger spinner in a Powerplay, but the match is being played on Rohit’s terms. That boundary makes him the leading runscorer in this fledgling tournament with 253.
7th over: India 41-0 (Rohit 31, Gill 12) The right-armer Hasun Mahmud replaces Shoriful, who was bullied by Rohit in an opening spell of 3-0-25-0. Gill charges his second ball and edges it high over the imaginary cordon for four. That’s the only boundary from an accurate first over.
India need 214 from 43 overs. They’re cruising.
6th over: India 37-0 (Rohit 31, Gill 6) This is getting silly. Rohit rocks back to slap Nasum past point for four more. And then he defends the next five balls, because he can. (And because Nasum has started very accurately.)
“It may be as well, throughout this tournament, to keep an eye on the first ball of each over in particular, as there seems to be a bias towards a wicket or boundary in many of them,” says John Starbuck. “Statistically significant? Who can say...”
5th over: India 33-0 (Rohit 27, Gill 6) Rohit is in unreal form just now. He drives a length delivery from Shoriful over mid-off for four more, then tucks a single to move to 27 from 18 balls. His strike rate in this competition is 143; oh and he’s averaging 81.
4th over: India 28-0 (Rohit 22, Gill 6) An early bowling change for Bangladesh. The left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, who has replaced the injured Shakib Al Hasan in the team, comes on for Mustafizur.
His second ball skids on nicely to hit Gill on the pad, though it was missing leg stump. It’s a good start though, just two from the over.
3rd over: India 26-0 (Rohit 21, Gill 5) This is a poor start from Shoriful. He drops short twice in three balls to Rohit, who cuts for four and pulls for six. Rohit is off to another flyer, 21 from 13 balls.
2nd over: India 14-0 (Rohit 9, Gill 5) Another left-armer, Mustafizur Rahman, shares the new ball. His first ball curves into Shubman Gill, who times it beautifully through midwicket for four. The rest of the over is played respectfully.
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1st over: India 8-0 (Rohit 8, Gill 0) Rohit Sharma’s last two innings have produced 217 runs off 147 deliveries, and apparently this is normal behaviour nowadays. He needs only two balls to find the boundary today, skimming a wide delivery from Shoriful through the covers; then he slaps another past the diving backward point. It was in the air but Inspector Gadget would have struggled to catch that.
An eventful first over concludes with a jaffa from Shoriful that beats Rohit on the inside as he tries to whip to leg. There is a bit of swing, and new-ball wickets are Bangladesh’s only hope.
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Ready? The players are, most notably Rohit Sharma and Shoriful Islam. There’s no Taskin Ahmed tonight, which is a blow to those who flagged him as Bangladesh’s player to watch.
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One out of two will do. Thanks Tom, hello everyone. Being a weirdo, I decided to look at when the first Spandex-tight finish occurred in all the other men’s ODI World Cups. In some it happened right at the start (in 1987 the first four games were all last-over thrillers, and even the fifth was a penultimate-over nipper, so could someone please send a DeLorean to Guardian Towers at their earliest convenience). In others (1979, 1983, 2011, 2015) it took more than 10 games for derrieres to squeak to the fullest. The slowest start to the competition was probably in 1983, when New Zealand beat England by two wickets in the 13th match of the competition.
This is the 17th match of the 2023 World Cup, and it’s not going to be close*. Right now India look a match for a Rest of the World XI, never mind an ailing, ageing Bangladesh. Hopefully the competition is saving all the thrillers for the business end.
* Guardian News and Media is not responsible for the potentially premature assumptions of its fuddled hacks.
Anyway, while Sky replays the most significant one-day cricket match of the 21st century, I’m going to hand you over to Rob Smyth, who comes armed with tremendous stats and a ready wit, to talk you through India’s probably routine run chase. But you never know. Thanks for your company and emails.
While we chew over what we’ve just seen, why not chew over what England need to do too, with Mark Ramprakash:
And this week’s Spin, on Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi, is also well worth your attention.
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India need 257 to win
Bangladesh will be pleased to get over the 250 mark but it’s unlikely to be enough on a true surface that a side as good as India should be able to overhaul. Rohit Sharma’s side were again sharp and focused with the ball and in the field once their spinners had ended a fine opening Bangladesh partnership, even though the loss of Pandya is a blow. Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side needed more from their middle order though and with Miraz and Shanto plus the openers falling in relatively quick succession, Bangladesh struggled to cut loose again, though Mahmudullah did his best.
“Wicket looks very good, no turn, we just need to play simple cricket,” is Ravindra Jadeja’s snap verdict on coming off the field. And I’m sure they will.
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50th over: Bangladesh 256-8 (Mustafizur 1, Shoriful 7). An eventful, skillful, fun denouement to the innings Bumrah begins the final over with an un-hittable inswinging yorker, which Rohit reviews for lbw – his first of the innings I think – but the replays show a clear inside edge. The second is even more unplayable, and Mahmudullah’s stumps are all messed up, ending a very useful knock. A tennis-smash of a shot from Mustafizur gets Bangladesh to 250 off a short ball. Good, improv-cricket all round really. But not as good as Shoriful’s last shot of the innings – an extraordinary, bold SIX over extra cover. India need 257 to win
Wicket! Mahmudullah b Bumrah 46,Bangladesh 248-8
Brilliant. Just brilliant, from a master of his art. Bumrah castles Mahmudullah with a spearing yorker.
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49th over: Bangladesh 248-7 ( Mahmudullah 47, Mustafizur 0). Mahmudullah inflicts some damage onSiraj’s final figures in a muc-needed productive Bangladesh over. Siraj is inelegantly hoisted towards long-off for two by Mahmudullah, not quite finding his timing on this occasion before a decent sprawling stop from the bowler cuts off the batter’s attempted across-the-line swipe. He finds his timing alright next ball though – it’s hammered over wide long-on for a wonderful SIX. Suitably hit off course, Siraj sends down a howling wide outside off. A low attempted yorker is steered wide on the off for one. Mustafizur declines a single off the last ball of the over, granting Mahmudullah the strike for the last over.
48th over: Bangladesh 238-7 ( Mahmudullah 37, Mustafizur 0). As expected, Bumrah changes ends and dangles a slower ball outside Mahmudullah’s off-stump. He misses. He doesn’t miss the next one though, carving it artfully back of square on the offside for four. He’s played well here, showing his class and experience. Then he digs out a yorker and scurries through for a single. Five off a Bumrah over full of characteristic variety and challenge feels like an accomplishment of sorts, even at this stage.
47th over: Bangladesh 233-7 ( Mahmudullah 32, Mustafizur 0). Nasum shows his potential with an utterly glorious straight drive for four off Siraj, who curiously replaces Bumrah at that end (perhaps they’ll bring him on from the other one). The No 8 is trying to go big now, slogging and getting nowhere near a short ball on a good line. A clearer, cleaner shot – a smack through extra cover – pierces the gaps for four more. But then he goes, caught behind, ending a cameo that ideally needed to last an over or two more.
Wicket! Nasum c Rahul b Siraj 14, Bangladesh 233-7
Nasum slogs outside off, gets a faint edge, Rahul gathers and up goes the finger.
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46th over: Bangladesh 225-6 ( Mahmudullah 32, Nasum 6). Better for the batting side. Bangladesh know they have to run everything with boundaries being so hard to come by. A single off Thakur is followed by a hard-run two for Mahmudullah, who then punishes a rare bad ball by clipping a wide ball backward of square on the legside for four. And then he goes two better by clobbering Thakur high over deep midwicket for SIX. A crisp drive brings a single and Nasum hacks another one. Fifteen off the over.
45th over: Bangladesh 210-6 ( Mahmudullah 19, Nasum 4). India just haven’t loosened their grip here, which forces Nasum to go for a chancey single off Bumrah. If they hit he’s gone, but they don’t. Bumrah continues to extract pace from the pitch masterfully, as Nasum slices down to third man for a single. A well-run two completes the over.
“Minimum 280 I reckon to give Bangladesh a sniff,” pipedreams Simon McMahon, “so this pair need to make hay while the sun shines. In other weather related news, the amber warning of rain for east Scotland has now been upgraded to red by the met office. No longer biblical but apocalyptic, to use the official terminology.”
44th over: Bangladesh 205-6 ( Mahmudullah 16, Nasum 2). Kuldeep returns for his last over, and offers the left-handed Nasum nada until he manages to force the fourth ball of the over down the ground for a single. Mahmudullah cuts for another one. Four from the over, all told. Yadav ends with 1-47 from his 10.
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43rd over: Bangladesh 201-6 ( Mahmudullah 14, Nasum 0). Bumrah is back to bowl through, if he’s needed to. A couple of singles ensue before a brilliant Jadeja catch ends the partnership and cuts off Mushfiqur. The left-handed Nasum is greeted with some chin music, whistling past him outside off. He then faces a strong appeal for caught behind off Bumrah’s outswinger but Rohit declines a review. It looks lke there was daylight.
“It is match #17 and no match even reached 99 overs,” continues Krishnamoorthy, “98.2 overs remain the top so far, on two occasions. And not many have been high-scoring either. This rather has a 1983 WC feels.” But just longer, and with no West Indies in the final.
Wicket! Mushfiqur c Jadeja b Bumrah 38
A great bowler snares a fine batter courtesy of an excellent fielder, Jadeja catching Mushfiqur’s sharp square cut on the stretch. Brilliant.
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42nd over: Bangladesh 199-5 ( Mushfiqur 37, Mahmudullah 13). Jadeja’s final over is canny and frugal, yielding a single only, as he finishes with solid figures of 2-39.
41st over: Bangladesh 198-5 ( Mushfiqur 36, Mahmudullah 13). India take the option of putting an extra fielder out for the final 10 overs, the first of which is bowled by Kuldeep. And he’s battered for a huge SIX by Mahmudullah, clobbering it way beyond deep midwicket. No extra fielder can get near that. An elegant square cut for one is followed by a nudged single to round off Bangladesh’s most fruitful over for a bit.
40th over: Bangladesh 189-5 ( Mushfiqur 34, Mahmudullah 6). Jadeja returns to the attack as Rohit continues to shuffle in the manner that has served him so well in this tournament as the batters deal in singles. I’d have put Mahmudullah above Hridoy in this batting order, for what it’s worth (which is nothing).
39th over: Bangladesh 186-5 ( Mushfiqur 32, Mahmudullah 7). Siraj continues, reliably, and these two batters can’t work away his accurate length bowling, until Mahmudullah shows his class with an effortless punch through the covers for four, every boundary precious now.
38th over: Bangladesh 181-5 ( Mushfiqur 31, Mahmudullah 1). The cameras taunt us with some beautiful sunset sea views while I stare out of my window at grey east London skies and ponder soup for lunch. Thakur returns and is pulled to deep square leg for one before Hridoy perishes with a mistimed slog. Mahmudullah is off the mark with a single as Bangladesh’s last recognised pair begin a partnership they need to last. It almost ends in its first over as Mahmudullah’s off-cut falls just short of Jadeja at gully. A very handy over from Thakur.
Wicket! Hridoy c Gill b Thakur 16
Hridoy never really got going, and he tries to take on Thakur but mistimes badly and dollies up an easy catch at midwicket for Gill
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37th over: Bangladesh 178-4 (Hridoy 16, Mushfiqur 29). Siraj returns to the attack as Bangladesh continue largely to trade in singles – India have offered few freebies all afternoon, even when the openers were thriving. Siraj does then offer one – a wide from a gratuitous bouncer – before Hridoy tries to go big, hoicking towards long-on but it’s not timed and plugs in the outfield and they settle for two. Still, eight from the over constitues improvement.
36th over: Bangladesh 170-4 (Hridoy 12, Mushfiqur 26). A four! Mushfiqur’s exquisite square drive beats the man at deep backward point. He feels absolutely pivotal to the rest of the Bangladesh innings now. After another single, Hridoy is challenged by an excellent inswinging yorker but survives it. All the tools are coming out now – it’s the cutter next. Five from the over.
35th over: Bangladesh 165-4 (Hridoy 12, Mushfiqur 21). Kuldeep v Mushfiqur is a decent battle, the former mixing up his lines and pace to parsimonious effect. Five dots and a single isn’t much use. Bangladesh could do with a proficient slogger at this stage of the innings
34th over: Bangladesh 164-4 (Hridoy 12, Mushfiqur 20). He’s back! Bumrah’s the show, and he comes on for Jadeja at the other end from that he began. Mushfiqur nudges him neatly off his pads down to deep fine leg though, but is denied a four by a brilliant sprawling stop by Kuldeep. Hridoy then almost runs himself out, following up too far and encouraging Jadeja to attempt a direct hit. If he’d connected, Hridoy might have been in trouble, but he didn’t. Mushfiqur finishes a skittish over from Bangladesh’s perspective by almost playing on.
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33rd over: Bangladesh 161-4 (Hridoy 12, Mushfiqur 17). Kuldeep, whose figures of 1-28 from six don’t do justice to his first spell, replaces Thakur. And he almost induces a senseless single from Mushfiqur first off, but his younger partner wisely sends him back. They take three singles, Kudeep getting plenty of revs on the ball, before Hridoy sweeps inconclusively for two.
32nd over: Bangladesh 156-4 (Hridoy 9, Mushfiqur 15). The first ball after drinks is hit for an out-of-the-blue SIX from Mushfiqur, swiping it high over deep square leg. A risk but perhaps one worth taking now. Other than that, it’s another good over from Jadeja, who’s bowled eight overs on the – ahem – spin now.
31st over: Bangladesh 149-4 (Hridoy 9, Mushfiqur 8). Hridoy pulls Thakur across the line for one, Mushfiqur pushes a single and Hridoy edges to gain one more. Then a bit of direct-hit-attempt showboating from Jadeja and then someone else who I couldn’t quite clock turns one into three as the batters run on the ricochets.
One thing that’s struck me about this World Cup so far has been the orthodoxy of most of the stroke-playing – not many ramps, scoops or reverses; in fact you get more of those in Tests these days.
Time for more drinks anyway.
30th over: Bangladesh 143-4 (Hridoy 7, Mushfiqur 4). Jadeja appeals for. lbw against Hridoy but there was a clear edge onto the pads, and then he tucks the batter up attempting to play a cut shot for which there was no room. The minor triumph of a well run two takes Mushfiqur to 1,000 World Cup runs. Well done him.
29th over: Bangladesh 140-4 (Hridoy 6, Mushfiqur 2). A lazy play and miss by Mushfiqur off Thakur’s first ball does not bode well. A couple of singles ensue as 300+ begins to disappear beyond the horizon, like the soon-to-be-setting sun in Pune.
“With 21 overs to go (I am counting Bumrah’s 6 as 2) a score of 220 looks realistic,” adds Krishnamoorthy. “… Which India will score in 30 overs. For those close matches - our wait continues.” I fear so.
28th over: Bangladesh 138-4 (Hridoy 5, Mushfiqur 1). The spinners have done a fine job just by bowling at the stumps, which induces the frustration that moves Das to hole out and end a fine innings. Jadeja has a second wicket – what a cricketer he is. Mushfiqur Rahim is off the mark with a paddle sweep for one, and he has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders now.
Das c Gill b Jadeja 66, Bangladesh 137-4
Oh Litton Das! What have you done? Perhaps frustrated by being pinned back, he goes for the lofted off drive, doesn’t quite hit with the spin and it’s scooped up in the deep by Gill
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27th over: Bangladesh 136-3 (Das 66, Hridoy 4). Bangladesh do have batting to come – Rahim’s in form and Mahmudullah has the credentials (though it seems to me he’s been a bit too low in the order; any thoughts?). These two meanwhile are largely watchful against the returning Thakur, from the opposite end than that from which he received a bit of tap earlier, and take only three singles from the over.
25th over: Bangladesh 133-3 (Das 65, Hridoy 2). Jadeja’s fifth over is as accurate as his previous four mostly were, as Hridoy and Das nudge it about and try to steady themselves.
25th over: Bangladesh 131-3 (Das 64, Hridoy 1). The curse of praising Bangladesh strikes again, courtesy of a stunning catch by Rahul to see off Miraz. It presages a fine over as Siraj, the second-spell maestro with spring now in step, zips and moves it both ways. The crowd is as loud as it’s been thus far – louder even than for Kohli’s 0.3-over spell. At the halfway stage, India are now the happier.
Wicket! Miraz c Rahul b Siraj 3, Bangladesh 129-3
What a catch! Miraz tickles a back of a length legside delivery and Rahul behind the stumps grasps it brilliantly with his outstretched left hand. India moving into the ascendant.
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24th over: Bangladesh 129-2 (Das 63, Miraz 3). A much-needed loosening of Bangladesh’s shackles: Das takes a risk with a lofted chip towards long-off, and it’s not far off being taken by Shubman Gill, who does well to stop the four. And than a boundary does finally come as Das hits not one but two in consecutive balls – a slogged straight drive and a controlled sweep to the vacant deep square leg area.
23rd over: Bangladesh 118-2 (Das 53, Miraz 2). With his spinners doing a great job and proving they might be needed later, Rohit opts to restore Siraj to the attack. Das flicks his first ball for a single. Miraz scuttles through for a leg-bye and Siraj then beats Mehedi with a sharp bouncer that he almost gloves behind, as the boundary drought initiated by the spinners continues with the quicks. Four from the over.
22nd over: Bangladesh 114-2 (Das 51, Miraz 1). Injury update: Pandya has gone for some scans on his left ankle. Back on the field, India are looking mustard in the field as Kohli essays a brilliant diving stop at short mid-off to deny Miraz a certain four. Excellent, tight over.
Talking of being a Jonah, I find myself convicted by the People’s Court of Mark Beadle: “A first fifty, you saying he’s played beautifully immediately followed by a drinks break, poor guy never stood a chance.”
21st over: Bangladesh 113-2 (Das 50, Miraz 1). These two batters need to rebuild a bit here, and both are capable, but Miraz almost coughs up a chance flicking a slower flighted ball in the air just past mid-on for one before Litton Das brings up a neat 50 with a flick through midwicket.
Wicket! Shanto lbw b Jadeja 8, Bangladesh 110-2
20th over: Bangladesh 110-2 (Das 48,). I’ve always enjoyed Jadeja’s almost Sunday-club-league walk/trot up to the crease when he bowls. He applies pressure adeptly of course, offering little width or room. And it works when he pushes a back of a length ball into Shanto’s pads, trapping him in his crease and he’s plumb. Spin is working for India.
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19th over: Bangladesh 107-1 (Das 46, Shanto 7). With Kuldeep and Yadav proving accurate and testing, Bangladesh are batting sensibly, looking to flick and push rather than going for their shots. In bad news for India, it’s confirmed that Pandya will not be fielding, which might affect his place in the batting order as well as depriving them of a bowler.
“Morning,” chirps John Starbuck. “I’ve just got back from the GP’s surgery and as soon as I got onto the OBO the first wicket fell. I warn you, I’m due for another medical appointment this afternoon, so whoever is batting then should beware, since I’ve turned out to be a Jonah.”
Good wishes for you at the doc’s anyway John
18th over: Bangladesh 103-1 (Das 44, Shanto 5). A huge cheer goes up as Ravindra Jadeja is introduced to the attack. A couple of singles take Bangladesh to three figures in an over that yields ones but not many big-hitting chances and it forces them to run a risky two
Just wondering who India might bowl with Pandya off the field? There’s a lot of specialist batters in that lineup.
17th over: Bangladesh 98-1 (Das 41, Shanto 3). A neat little paddle from Das has Bangladesh hoping for two but fine fielding at deep square leg limits them to one. Kuldeep then almost snares Shanto with his quicker delivery, straight on middle stump, but the batter pushes out. A tremendous over is crowned by one that really does turn, a ripper past Shanto’s edge outside off. India are back in this.
Still no sign of Pandya, who hobbled off half an hour or so ago.
16th over: Bangladesh 96-1 (Das 40, Shanto 2). With two decent, experienced batters at the crease, this is a real test now for Bangladesh not to fall victim to the kind of collapses that have characterised so many innings in this tournament. Shanto is watchful against Thakur, who’s grateful for some rare dot balls. A flicked single and a quick single are all that Bangladesh can muster.
High praise from OBO regular Krishnamoorthy: “Has there been a better opening partnership against India with Bumrah in the team? Probably not”
15th over: Bangladesh 94-1 (Das 39, Shanto 1). Kuldeep continues as all the pre-match forecasts of a lack of turn in Pune continue to prove accurate. There’s a much bigger crowd in now, with noise and percussion to match, and that all ramps up a lot more as Kuldeep ends the partnership, continuing his wicket-taking knack. New man in, the stand-in captain Shanto, gets off the mark second ball.
Wicket! Tanzid lbw b Kuldeep 51, Bangladesh 93-1
The vital breakthrough, Tanzid tries to sweep a flipper, misreads it and it hits him plumb in front.
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14th over: Bangladesh 90-0 (Tanzid 50, Das 37). Tanzid has a good cover drive on him and stings the hands of the fielder at extra cover to add another single off Thakur, and then goes aerial in that same offside region, cracking another four to move to the cusp of his first ODI half-century, which he brings up with another push on the off. He’s played beautifully – seeing off an opening burst from Bumrah is something to brag about in its own right, and he’s opened his shoulders since then. And that’s drinks.
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13th over: Bangladesh 82-0 (Tanzid 44, Das 35). Another crisp square cut from Litton Das punishes a slightly short ball from Kuldeep for four more. The strike gets rotated agreeably too – the challenge now is to build on this: this is a 300+ surface for anyone.
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12th over: Bangladesh 72-0 (Tanzid 42, Das 28). We are told this is now Bangladesh’s highest opening partnership in a World Cup after Thakur is milked for a two and a one. It’s followed by what is technically a chance as Tanzid hammers one at the bowler’s hand. He never looked able to grasp it. The openers have clearly decided to target Thakur, as a result of which Tanzid almost plays on, but these two look pretty comfortable at the moment.
11th over: Bangladesh 68-0 (Tanzid 41, Das 25). Kuldeep – who’s had a good tournament so far – is the first spinner used, as Rohit has some thinking to do. But the runs keep coming, two singles followed by a larrup over the bowlers head for four by Litton Das. The comeback ball is great, mind, a slider that befuddles the batter.
I guess the worry for Bangladesh is that India will make hay with the bat against an injury-depleted attack just as they have so far.
10th over: Bangladesh 63-0 (Tanzid 4o, Das 21). Bangladesh are suddenly on the charge. Another bowling change – the third in two overs – sees Shardul Thakur replace Siraj. And an emboldened Tanzid gets hold of a back of a length ball and swings it over deep square leg for SIX to bring up the 50 partnership. Two more fours follow as Tanzid advances and cracks Thakur over mid-on and extra-cover respectively. The ball is coming on to the bat nicely now, to say the least.
9th over: Bangladesh 47-0 (Tanzid 24, Das 21). The good news is that Hardik is up off the deck, but he’s moving very gingerly. Surely he can’t bowl? And he doesn’t – he has to leave the field. AND VIRAT KOHLI IS GOING TO COMPLETE THE OVER! The crowd – those that have got in – go noisily berzerk. His first ball for six years is accurate and respectfully defended. The second inswinging dobber is flicked to long-on for one and the third is pushed square on the off for one. And that completes his spell at 0.3-0-2-0.
8.3 overs: Bangladesh 37-0 (Tanzid 23, Das 20). Looks like we might – might – have got ourselves a contest here. Hardik Pandya replaces Bumrah and begins with a jaffa, an on-length beauty that seams away from Das and beats him all ends up. The batter responds with two lovely boundaries – withering advancing thwack through extra cover for four and an imperious straight drive. Worse for India, Hardik appears to have twisted or pulled something in stretching with his leg to stop Litton’s drive and needs the physio’s attention. We’ve got a bit of a delay.
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8th over: Bangladesh 37-0 (Tanzid 23, Das 12). Das pulls Siraj for a single and then Tanzid advances and cracks one over the offside infield for four. This is good, positive cricket against a new ball beginning to lose some swing. Tanzid is seeing it well, and proves it with the shot of the day, an impeccable straight drive past the bowler for four. Dare I say that a semblance of a platform is being built here?
Random thought: is Nasser Hussain the only commentator who ever uses the phrase “gun-barrel straight”?
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7th over: Bangladesh 27-0 (Tanzid 15, Das 11). Das appears to be growing in confidence and nudges his first run off Bumrah square on the offside. Bumrah opts to go round the wicket at the left-handed Tanzid looking to bring lbw in to play, having slanted a lot across him thus far, and then beats him with an outswinger slanted the other way. And then, from nowhere, Tanzid rounds off the over by leg-glancing a short ball to fine leg for SIX – letting the pace do the work. Grounds for Bangladeshi hope here?
“I note yet another reference to Organisational Blunder,” quips Neil Hickey. “This young Blunder chap keeps getting mentioned everywhere, has to be a strong chance to be Player of the Tournament at this rate.” Yeah, definite Euro 96 vibes from some of these empty-seated arenas.
6th over: Bangladesh 19-0 (Tanzid 9, Das 10). A productive over at last for Bangladesh. Siraj gets some venom and bounce from the pitch, beating Litton Das outside off before Das delivers the day’s first boundary, cracking it high behind square on the offside for four. And it’s followed – London bus style* – by another, clipping a fuller delivery through midwicket for a sumptuous four.
* The London-bus metaphor thing is quite tired really isn’t it – London buses are way more reliable than in the rest of the country with its deregulated madness.
5th over: Bangladesh 10-0 (Tanzid 9, Das 1). “If they survive Bumrah without losing a wicket - that is the best outcome for any,” says Krishnamoorthy, rightly. A searing inswinging yorker tests Tanzid but he digs it out well and has the speed of thought to run a much-needed quick single. Das is off the mark too, finally, with a flick through midwicket. A loose shot from Tanzid ensues, throwing bat and missing at a wide one outside off. The batter’s not enjoying this at all as Bumrah hurls another one at his pads – they should have appealed for that, replays suggest. Tamzid makes a thicker connection to an outswinger to round off the over, hoicking over backward point for a couple.
4th over: Bangladesh 6-0 (Tanzid 6, Das 0). There are still huge lines of people outside the currently half-full stadium – this looks like a bit of an organisational blunder – as Siraj starts his second over. Tanzid pushes an easy single. An aggressive field is set for Litton Das with a wide slip, seeking to deny him easy singles, and he still can’t get off the mark. This is an impeccably parsimonious start from India.
3rd over: Bangladesh 5-0 (Tanzid 5, Das 0). It may be a true batting surface but it’s got pace and bounce, and that – alongside his immense talent – is going to make Bumrah a fearsome proposition and he beats Litton outside off before bringing one in and rapping the batter on the pads. An appeal ensues from the bowler but no one else joins in – impact was outside off I think, but it’s a fine set-up. Is there a harder fast bowler to face in world cricket? Litton will be pleased to have survived a maiden.
2nd over: Bangladesh 5-0 (Tanzid 5, Das 0). Mohammed Siraj starts us off at the other end and almost snaffled a wicket first ball, as Tanzid’s uppish miscued off-drive just beats the man at point and goes for four. It’s a tidy over overall, but Tanzid sees out competently enough.
“I’ve got every bit of vinyl released by indie miserabilists Birdland,” “brags” Matt Kitson, “including a rare bootleg LP (see attached). If anyone wants to make me an offer for the job lot, I’m all ears. They were absolutely massive in Japan, and very briefly in Huddersfield (well, I liked them even if nobody else did).”
If someone had told me 30 years ago that you could make an actual living arguing about Birdland on a computer while watching cricket I’d have, well … assumed the future of our species would be a lot rosier than it’s actually turned out to be.
1st over: Bangladesh 1-0 (Tanzid 1, Das 0). So the ever-potent Jasprit Bumrah gets the new ball at the far end, and begins with what we might call a loosener and stricter umpires would have called a wide, drifting way outside the left-handed Tanzid’s off stump. A push through the offside for a single gets Tanzid and Bangladesh off the mark but the openers are watchful against Bumrah’s zip and fizz, and their apprehension is justified by a beautiful away-swinger that nips off the seam and beats Litton outside off. There are still huge queues outside the stadium.
“Bangladesh wants to bat – India says they would have bowled In such a scenario, can we do away with the toss? Think about it,” says Krishnamoorthy. I have thought about it and would still go ahead with the toss, I think. Captains might want to hold their thoughts back and keep opponents guessing, which might be undermined by a chummy pre-match agreement. And there’s always a role for dramatic ritual, so I’d keep it.
The teams are coming out for the anthems …
A bit of pre-match grim-up-northery from friend of the OBO Simon McMahon: “Weather Report? Well here in Dundee, it’s got to be Heavy Weather. Biblical rain forecast for the next two days. Gale force winds thrown in for good measure. Thank whoever for the cricket, and OBO. Let’s hope today is not a Procession.”
Birdland – now there’s a band I’ve not thought about for three decades (with reason, I might quip)
Nasser Hussain walks out pointlessly with the trophy as part of the pre-match ceremonials. The ground’s not yet full but expect it to fill up through the course of the afternoon.
The teams
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Bangladesh: Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.
So India keep the same XI that demolished Pakistan, Bangladesh bring in Nasum Ahmed – like Shakib a slow left-armer - and Hasan Mahmud for Shakib and Taskin Ahmed. Their attack looks weakened, so the decision to bat first on a pitch that doesn’t have much turn and has runs in it has a certain logic.
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Fact-gasm: this is the first time Bangladesh have played India in India for 25 years – less a quirk than a damning indictment of the international game’s inadequately regulated fixture schedule
Bangladesh win the toss and bat
Bangladesh captain Shanto calls correctly and opts to have a bat, fancying the look of the pitch. Regular skipper, the veteran Shakin Al Hasan, is out with a quad injury – a big blow.
Rohit Sharma meanwhile says he would have bowled, so everyone’s happy.
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Pune weather report: it’s around 30 degrees there at the moment with a partially cloudy forecast, and the meteorological boffins giving it a 20% chance of rain through the early stages. We’ve been relatively fortunate with the weather so far in this World Cup, so hopefully that can continue.
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Preamble
Morning/Afternoon/Evening everyone. Let’s be honest: this World Cup desperately needs a close match. It’s had two bona fide upsets – Afghanistan eviscerating England and the Netherlands’ emphatic win over South Africa – but even the second of those was characterised by a curiously low-key ending as the Proteas sought to farm their net run rate and play for a respectable defeat rather than go down swinging, or entertaining.
On form so far, we look to be heading for another convincing win today too, in Pune’s first match of the tournament. India have thus far looked the most convincing World Cup favourites since Australia in their 1999-2007 imperial phase. It’s hard to identify a weak link in this team, and their big guns – yer Rohits, Kohlis, Bumrahs, Jadejas et al – all seem to be firing, rising to the occasion in thumping wins against two big rivals.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, are yet to convince – after swatting aside Afghanistan they were well beaten by England and New Zealand. But they have a decent recent ODI record against India, beating them in a home series late last year and recording a narrow win in the Asia Cup last month.
And, of course, Bangladesh have those memories of their 2007 humbling of India in Trinidad, for my money the most significant World Cup match this century – a match that two of their current squad, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, played in. Since then, the format’s been tweaked to, more or less, shock-proof the tournament, ensuring that nothing so vulgar as a “big three” nation going home after three games could happen again. So here we are instead, with an interminable 10-team single-group stage and much NRR dullardry.
Anyway, I’m happy to return to my theory that 2007 was the Year That Changed Cricket during quiet patches of play, but in the meantime we’ve a match to watch, crammed full of watchable cricketers. Bring it.
Play starts 9.30am BST/2pm local time/7.30pm AET
