Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, has acknowledged India’s fearless approach to cricket and the impact it has had on scaring their opponents. Speaking on the eve of their ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match against India at the MCA Stadium in Pune, Hathurusingha shared his thoughts on India’s performance and the upcoming match.
This match between India and Bangladesh is the fourth of the ICC ODI World Cup for both teams. India has had a successful run in the tournament, winning all three of their previous matches, while Bangladesh faced consecutive losses after winning their opener.
Hathurusingha praised India’s all-around performance, stating, “I think they have covered every area. They got strike bowlers up front. Bumrah has almost come to his best, as good as we have seen in the past. They have good, experienced spinners going in the middle overs. And their batting, especially the top order is firing, and it’s scary the way they are playing at this stage without much fear.” He also mentioned the strong support and enjoyment the Indian team seems to have while playing in their home World Cup.
Regarding the fitness of Shakib al Hasan, the Bangladesh skipper, Hathurusingha explained that Shakib had a productive batting session and is awaiting the results of a recent scan. The decision to play him against India will depend on Shakib’s readiness and the medical staff’s assessment. Hathurusingha emphasized that they wouldn’t risk it if Shakib isn’t fully prepared to play. The final decision will be made by the captain and coach after evaluating Shakib’s fitness.
Hathurusingha acknowledged that World Cup contests are unique and challenging, emphasizing the need for Bangladesh to perform at their best to outshine India. While Bangladesh has had recent success against India, the World Cup presents a different level of competition, and they aim to produce a complete performance.
In terms of batting, Hathurusingha recognized that Bangladesh must significantly improve their performance to challenge India. He noted that the pitch in Pune is conducive to batting, offering an excellent practice wicket, and expressed optimism about their upcoming match.
Hathurusingha concluded by emphasizing the importance of a complete performance with both bat and ball, highlighting their potential as a team to defeat strong opponents. As they prepare to face India, Bangladesh remains hopeful for a successful match.