DHAKA: India will fancy their chances to register a series win in the second One-Day International (ODI) against Bangladesh, when they clash on Tuesday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. India lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first game at the same venue on Sunday by seven wickets via Duckworth-Lewis method.

Despite the hosts putting up a competitive total of 272 for six in the first clash, India were able to clinch the game in their favour as their batsmen came to the party with emphatic performances. While Robin Uthappa and Ajinkya Rahane slammed half-centuries, captain Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu guided India to a win in the rain-affected match, reports the cricketcountry.com on Monday.

It said that India may have been able to make a winning start on this short tour, but there are areas where they need to address. The bowlers weren’t as impressive as they were in the start of the Bangladesh innings. The hosts were kept quite till the 10th over as they had lost two wickets and did not have a good score on the board. But Bangladesh’s middle-order did well not only to help their side revive, but also provided a strong platform for a strong first innings total.

Mohit Sharma walked off the field in the middle of his fourth over and his availability for the second ODI is not yet confirmed. He was impressive at the beginning and despite returning on the field later on, there is a cloud of uncertainty over his participation in the second ODI.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s failure in the first game would have certainly worried the Indian camp, as the right-handed batsman who was for a long time ignored for limited-overs cricket has finally got his chance to prove his worth. Unfortunately there are not many opportunities in front of Pujara as the core of the Indian squad is already set.

Mushfiqur Rahim continues to be the key for Bangladesh as he has been one of their highest run-scorers in the past. He hit a fluent half-century on the slowish track which was studded with three sixes and as many fours. Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan too played well as he scored a half-century. Bangladesh would be hoping that the two senior players continue their good show as they will need their services to bounce back in this series.

The biggest worry for the hosts would be their bowling attack, as the tracks are placid and the Indians are loaded with heavy scorers. Uthappa and Rahane have already made their intentions clear, and the former would be itching to make most of the golden run that he has been in, along with the opportunity of opening the innings in place of the regular opener Shikhar Dhawan. Among the Bangladeshi bowlers only Shakib could make an impact in the first game, snarling both the wickets that fell. Apart from the left-arm spinner, not much of fight was seen from the hosts’ bowlers.

Bangladesh will have to get their act together and produce an all-round show, as despite being severely depleted India look dangerous enough to seal the series in the second game itself.

Squads:

India: Suresh Raina (c), Robin Uthappa, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Stuart Binny, Parvez Rasool, Akshar Patel, R Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav,  Mohit Sharma, Amit Mishra.  Analysis of Indian Team here

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque (wk), Shamsur Rahman, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Sohag Gazi, Ziaur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain and Taskin Ahmed. Analysis of Bangladesh Team here

BDST: 1653 HRS, JUNE 16, 2014