Bengal Tigers must play and dedicate the expected victory today to the unfortunate victims of US-Bangla aircraft at Tribhuban Airport.
The black bands in their arm must give them extra vigor and extra energy. Bangladesh must play the unique Bangladesh Brand of cricket it displayed against the home side only two days back. There may not be that Nagin Dance today as the nation is still mourning the loss at Kathmandu. But Tigers can storm into the final after the expected win today. Hope the momentum created from last match would carry them through. But there is no scope of complacency.
T20 is a pure gamble. You win some and lose some. But iron must hit when it is hot. This Indian team is not unbeatable and this Bangladesh team is capable of winning against any team on their day.
It all depends on positive mind set .Hope that brave batting , hot run chase against Sri Lanka has effectively changed the body language , the chemistry of the team. Tamim rightly said and then Riyad and Mushfiq echoed Bangladesh does not possess Champion impact players like Chris Gayle or MSD but it has many smart players who are more than capable in changing the tide to Bangladesh favor. Just we need to put together the acts on time. Hope once turned around hungry tigers would not look back till the mission is over.
There are talks of bringing few changes. Bowling is looking thin. Pace bowlers are struggling in putting the balls in the right channel as seen against Sri Lanka. Spinners could not step into the shoes of Shakib. But they could control the belligerent Indians in the first match. Yet I would suggest trying Rony or Rahi in place of struggling Taskin today. Indians have not played either of them. Hope Courtney Walsh would make right assessment.
If Taskin is found OK change may not be essential. But one change must be done. Sabbir is looking down and out. Ariful will be of better utility in his place. Enough investment has been made on Sabbir. He is morally and mentally out of sorts at the moment.
Hope back to tune Tamim would continue in the same vein. Tamim must dig in and try to expand his innings to 70-80. His presence till 15-16th over would be enough taking the score around 200 if batting first. We cannot expect the same cameo from Liton in every match. But the right left combination at the top must continue. Hope Soumya would strike better today. Other than Chahal this Indian contingent does not have enough wicket taking bowlers. If they are counter attacked they will lose their way.
We can always expect Mushfiq and Mahmudullah would explode at the right time if top order leverage them on right foundation. Playing Ariful in place of Sabbir would be right choice. His mind is just not there.
Pairing Rahi or Rony whoever is in better nick with Mustafiz would be appropriate today. Opposition has worked out Taskin. His bad patch is not over yet. But If Courtney feel safer with Taskin let him take the decision. Mustafiz and his new ball partner must remove inform Dhawan early.
We are not sure about present form of Rubel. Can he still unleash his toe crushing Yorkers with accuracy? He may rock today. Bangladeshi bowlers should extend bad form of Rohit going. Do not think Raina, Pandey or Kartik can be issue of Bangladesh. But Bangladeshi bowlers must bowl consistently at the right channel.
I think team tigers are well primed now. Once tigers have the taste of blood they keep on hunting. Will it be Indian buffalo after Lankan Lion today?
My team for the day
Tamim Iqubal, Liton K Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Ariful Huq, Mehedi Miraj, Nazmul Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel and Rony/ Rahi
BDST: 0855 HRS, MAR 14, 2018
SI
