5 reasons why Bangladesh can defeat India in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy

Bangladesh has often in the past reached a point where they look like getting a victory against fellow Asian side India only to fail towards the dead end of the innings. For instance, in the 2016 T20 World Cup, they failed to score two runs in the last three balls or in the Asia Cup 2016 finals where they failed to defend 120 runs in 15 overs.

The side led by the veteran right-arm pacer Mashrafe Mortaza have never reached the semi-final stage of the Champions Trophy before, having only taken part in the competition once before in 2006. Since then, the Tigers’ have grown from strength to strength but never have been a proven winner.

This year around too, the Tigers were placed in the group alongside hosts nation England, World Champions Australia and New Zealand where they rose to the occasion to finish second in the group to qualify for the semifinal stage of the competition. They would face India in the first of Semi-finals following India’s eight-wicket victory over World No.1 South Africa.

Here are five reasons which might benefit Bangladesh to a win over the Indians come this Thursday.

#1 Tamim Iqbal’s form, a blessing

Tamim Iqbal has been one of the leading run-scorers in the tournament, after the likes of India’s Shikhar Dhawan and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. The southpaw has scored 223 runs in the three innings that he has played in the tournament, with a high score of 128 runs coming in the opening match against England.

The Southpaw, following the 128 runs he scored against the host’s nation scored a 95 against the World Champions Australia in the following match. With a rare failure coming against New Zealand, the left-hander would want to return to form when they face Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and co. in the second semi-final match this Thursday.

#2 India’s inconsistency

India entered the Tournament as favourites after winning the Champions Trophy in the 2014 edition, where they defeated the host’s nation England by a margin of five runs. In the opening encounter against Pakistan in the 2017 edition, they defeated the arch-rivals by a huge margin to set the ball rolling.

Even in the victory against arch-rivals, they failed to capitalize on the chances they got, with Kedar Jadhav failing to hold on to the ball on more than one occasion. Against Sri Lanka, the Indian team failed to build on the opening wicket partnership of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. If India gives the Tigers’ a small little opportunity to sniff at victory, the Tigers might very well come off with a victory.

#3 Bangladesh pace duo

Bangladesh’s pace duo of Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain have come up with the goods whenever Mashrafe Mortaza has required them to. The duo has the pace to trouble the batsmen, with the odd short ball causing a worry or two for the batsmen.

The only thing that would concern the Bangladeshi skipper is the form of the left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who has not quite played up to the mark. If Bangladesh stands a chance at reaching the final stages of the tournament, it would be the pace duo who would lead them.

#4 Shakib Al Hasan remains the key

The Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan did not play the major part of the Indian Premier League, where he was forced to the bench with his form being a worry for the side. Things have changed since then for the left-handed all-rounder who has come back to lead the side out of trouble against New Zealand.

In the game against New Zealand, the Tigers’ were in all sorts of trouble before a partnership between Shakib and Mahmudullah put the team in the driving seat. At the end of the match, the left-handed batsman scored 114 runs off 115 balls at just less than 100 strike-rate to help the team get over the line to a historic win.

#5 Mahmudullah’s batting on the rise

The unsung hero of Bangladesh’s historic victory over New Zealand in Cardiff would be the right-handed all-rounder Mahmudullah. The team was in all sorts of trouble at 33/4 before the right-hander combined with Shakib to form a 223 run partnership leading the Tigers to a comfortable five-wicket victory.

The right-handed batsman scored 102 runs in 107 balls, with eight boundaries and two sixes at a strike rate of 95.33. The innings would forever be etched in Bangladesh’s history book, with a famous win over the team that was tipped to win the Champions Trophy.