A clinical India will face a resurgent Bangladesh in the summit clash of Asia Cup 2018. India have been undefeated in the tournament and will clearly start as the favourites whereas Bangladesh will be inspired to put up their best show after pipping a strong Pakistan in virtual semi-final to reach the finals.
Match importance
Bangladesh’s best performance came in 2012(ODI format) and 2016(T20 format) when they finished as runner-up, losing to Pakistan and India respectively. They will be eyeing to win their first Asian title.
A win for defending champions India will give them their 7th title.
Match Details
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE
Date: 28 September 2018, Friday
Timings: 17:00 IST, 15:30 UAE
Weather
The heat will play its part with high humidity level. The temperature will range from 36’c to 42’c in the noon and is expected to soar down in the evening with temperature ranging from 29’c to 32’c.
Pitch report
Traditionally the wicket is a batsman paradise which will offer help to the spinners. Dew may be a factor so the team winning the toss should bowl first and chase the target in the second innings.
Important Player
India: The onus will be on skipper Rohit Sharma to create the impact in the match. He rested himself for the dead rubber against Afghanistan and is expected to arrive fresh for the finals. He has scored 269 runs in four innings of the tournament. Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman will be his biggest threat as he has faced lot of difficulties in facing left hand seamers.
Bangladesh: Experienced Mushfiqur Rahim will be the biggest threat for India. The right handed batsman is the second highest run getter(297 runs in 4 innings) in the tournament after Shikhar Dhawan(327 runs in four innings).
Rahim has held the innings together on many occasions after Bangladeshi top order has failed to fire in the tournament.
The Number game
The two teams have never faced each other in Dubai. However, they squared-off in Sharjah on 5 April, 1995, where Indian team emerged victorious by 9 wickets.
India’s Squad
Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Siddharth Kaul and K Khaleel Ahmed.
Bangladesh’s Squad
Masrafe Bin Mortaza (c), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Litton Kumar Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nazmul Islam Apu, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Haider Rony, Mominul Haque, Imrul Kayes.
