5 Key Players for Bangladesh ahead of the ODI series against India

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The ever-dependable Shakib Al Hasan will be one of the Key Players for Bangladesh

Bangladesh is all set to challenge India for a multi-format tour on the former’s turf. The Bangla Tigers will kick start their campaign with ODIs on Sunday and the action will move to the longest format of the game from December 14. 

For the white-ball assignment, Bangladesh has selected a well-rounded squad with a nice blend of youth and experience. The senior trio of Mahmudullah Riyadh, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Tamim Iqbal were to don the Bangladeshi jersey for the first time since the Zimbabwe series but the southpaw batter was ruled out for the entirety of the series due to a groin injury. 

In Tamim’s absence, Litton Das will be leading the Bangladeshi side in what will be the first instance for the keeper-batter to lead the Tigers in the format. With the ODI World Cup scheduled next year, there are some players who will be looking to set the stage ablaze with their performances and make a case for their selection in the national team. Also, certain star players would take the upcoming series as an opportunity to get back into the groove.

Here are the five Bangladeshi players to watch out for in the ODI cricket series against India:

#5 Afif Hossain

The Southpaw made his ODI debut for Bangladesh back in 2020 but his most crucial knock earlier in the year in February 2022, in Chattogram, 22-year-old Afif rescued Bangladesh from 45 for 6 in a record stand with Mehidy Hasan Miraz against Afghanistan – they added an unbeaten 174, the second-highest partnership for the seventh wicket or lower in ODIs. Interestingly, the knock he played was when the batter came in to bat at number eight.

Afif can play as an all-rounder but is known predominantly as an explosive batter who comes down the order and can hit the ground running. Afif excels in the one-day format of the sport and can deliver with the bat when his side requires him to get explosive.

While Afif is still quite far from being regarded as one of the best finishers in the game, one cannot rule out the possibility of the youngster becoming one of the best in the near future. His right-arm off-break would also come in handy in spin-friendly Bangladeshi conditions.

#4 Mustafizur Rahman

One of the best left-arm fast bowlers produced by Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman burst into the limelight with his stellar performance against India on his debut in 2015. Interestingly, that was the last series where India toured Bangladesh. Rahman had made his ODI debut versus the 2011 World Cup winners and he had ended the series with 13 wickets which helped Bangladesh record a memorable series win.

Since then he has become an integral part of the team. Also, he has plenty of experience of playing in a plethora of T20 leagues worldwide including the Indian Premier League. In the IPL, he has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. This means that Mustafizur possesses a proper knowledge of the Indian batters.

The Satkhira-born superstar has played 79 ODIs for Bangladesh, scalping 139 wickets at a decent strike rate of 27.4. He has also taken a nine four-wicket haul in ODIs including three fifers and thus, the Indian batsmen need to stay cautious while batting against him.

#3 Taskin Ahmed

Taskin Ahmed has been in great form of late for Bangladesh in white-ball cricket

Taskin Ahmed has been in great form of late for Bangladesh in white-ball cricket

This will be a big series for Taskin Ahmed who would look to impress against Indian batters in the upcoming series to audition for the upcoming IPL Auctions. The pace spearhead was reportedly approached by the Lucknow Super Giants as a replacement for England’s Mark Wood in IPL 2022. However, reports suggest that the Bangladesh Cricket Board denied NOC and did not allow the pacer from participating in the cash-rich league.

Taskin has been phenomenal for Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 as he has scalped eight wickets in five matches. The pacer is capable of bamboozling batters and has the potential of providing the side with vital breakthroughs although doing that in Bangladeshi slow pitch will be tough. 

But if he even manages to be economical despite not scalping many wickets in this series, he has a big chance of making it into the Indian Premier League. The player will miss the first game of the series due to a recurring back injury but is expected to be a vital cog in the next two games of the series.

#2 Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh’s senior all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been a vital clog for his side especially in the limited-overs format due to his amazing capabilities both with the bat and ball. Shakib has smacked more than 6700 ODI runs at a fine average of close to 38 which includes a total of 50 half-centuries and 9 centuries. 

Even though his strike rate can be a matter of discussion, the player often plays the role of an anchor and aims to build the innings for the hitters to capitalise. However, consistency has been an issue for the cricketer. This is one area he needs to work on and would look to do so starting with this series keeping World Cup 2023 preparations in mind.

He has also been really impressed with the ball as witnessed over the years having picked as many as 285 wickets from 221 ODI games at a brilliant economy of less than 5. His main role will be to restore the lost prestige of Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh, which once used to be the dark horse of the ICC tournaments, has slowed down in recent times. Their ODI record in the recent past has been pretty average and as a senior member of the side, he’ll have to take responsibility to bring the glory days back. Hence, the former Bangladesh cricketer will be a dangerous player to watch out for in these three ODI matches.

#1 Litton Das

Litton Das will be the main man for Bangladesh in the ODI series against India

Litton Das will be the main man for Bangladesh in the ODI series against India 

The new skipper of the Bangladeshi team, Litton Das usually plays higher up in the middle order because he can keep the scoreboard ticking. The batter likes to rotate the strike and play sensible cricket. He has good defensive technique and flair in his stroke play.

The frontline batter has been able to apply himself on the wicket. In 57 ODI matches, Litton has racked up 1835 runs at a decent strike rate of 88.6 having already racked up five tons and seven fifties. 

The batter can also play the role of a wicketkeeper which can come in handy for his side, especially with Mushfiqur Rahim ageing, the former Tigers skipper can concentrate on his batting while handing over the keeping responsibility to the talented Das.

In the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Litton did not manage to put up a great show barring the game against India, but he can carve out a sublime innings and deal with the pace and spin with equal elan. He is the most in-form Bangladeshi batter for the Tigers in the last two years and will be the most dangerous for the Men in Blue in the upcoming series.

Bangladesh is all set to challenge India for a multi-format tour on the former’s turf. The Bangla Tigers will kick start their campaign with ODIs on Sunday and the action will move to the longest format of the game from December 14. 

For the white-ball assignment, Bangladesh has selected a well-rounded squad with a nice blend of youth and experience. The senior trio of Mahmudullah Riyadh, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Tamim Iqbal were to don the Bangladeshi jersey for the first time since the Zimbabwe series but the southpaw batter was ruled out for the entirety of the series due to a groin injury. 

In Tamim’s absence, Litton Das will be leading the Bangladeshi side in what will be the first instance for the keeper-batter to lead the Tigers in the format. With the ODI World Cup scheduled next year, there are some players who will be looking to set the stage ablaze with their performances and make a case for their selection in the national team. Also, certain star players would take the upcoming series as an opportunity to get back into the groove.

Here are the five Bangladeshi players to watch out for in the ODI cricket series against India:

#5 Afif Hossain

The Southpaw made his ODI debut for Bangladesh back in 2020 but his most crucial knock earlier in the year in February 2022, in Chattogram, 22-year-old Afif rescued Bangladesh from 45 for 6 in a record stand with Mehidy Hasan Miraz against Afghanistan – they added an unbeaten 174, the second-highest partnership for the seventh wicket or lower in ODIs. Interestingly, the knock he played was when the batter came in to bat at number eight.

Afif can play as an all-rounder but is known predominantly as an explosive batter who comes down the order and can hit the ground running. Afif excels in the one-day format of the sport and can deliver with the bat when his side requires him to get explosive.

While Afif is still quite far from being regarded as one of the best finishers in the game, one cannot rule out the possibility of the youngster becoming one of the best in the near future. His right-arm off-break would also come in handy in spin-friendly Bangladeshi conditions.

#4 Mustafizur Rahman

One of the best left-arm fast bowlers produced by Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman burst into the limelight with his stellar performance against India on his debut in 2015. Interestingly, that was the last series where India toured Bangladesh. Rahman had made his ODI debut versus the 2011 World Cup winners and he had ended the series with 13 wickets which helped Bangladesh record a memorable series win.

Since then he has become an integral part of the team. Also, he has plenty of experience of playing in a plethora of T20 leagues worldwide including the Indian Premier League. In the IPL, he has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. This means that Mustafizur possesses a proper knowledge of the Indian batters.

The Satkhira-born superstar has played 79 ODIs for Bangladesh, scalping 139 wickets at a decent strike rate of 27.4. He has also taken a nine four-wicket haul in ODIs including three fifers and thus, the Indian batsmen need to stay cautious while batting against him.

#3 Taskin Ahmed

Taskin Ahmed has been in great form of late for Bangladesh in white-ball cricket

Taskin Ahmed has been in great form of late for Bangladesh in white-ball cricket

This will be a big series for Taskin Ahmed who would look to impress against Indian batters in the upcoming series to audition for the upcoming IPL Auctions. The pace spearhead was reportedly approached by the Lucknow Super Giants as a replacement for England’s Mark Wood in IPL 2022. However, reports suggest that the Bangladesh Cricket Board denied NOC and did not allow the pacer from participating in the cash-rich league.

Taskin has been phenomenal for Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 as he has scalped eight wickets in five matches. The pacer is capable of bamboozling batters and has the potential of providing the side with vital breakthroughs although doing that in Bangladeshi slow pitch will be tough. 

But if he even manages to be economical despite not scalping many wickets in this series, he has a big chance of making it into the Indian Premier League. The player will miss the first game of the series due to a recurring back injury but is expected to be a vital cog in the next two games of the series.

#2 Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh’s senior all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been a vital clog for his side especially in the limited-overs format due to his amazing capabilities both with the bat and ball. Shakib has smacked more than 6700 ODI runs at a fine average of close to 38 which includes a total of 50 half-centuries and 9 centuries. 

Even though his strike rate can be a matter of discussion, the player often plays the role of an anchor and aims to build the innings for the hitters to capitalise. However, consistency has been an issue for the cricketer. This is one area he needs to work on and would look to do so starting with this series keeping World Cup 2023 preparations in mind.

He has also been really impressed with the ball as witnessed over the years having picked as many as 285 wickets from 221 ODI games at a brilliant economy of less than 5. His main role will be to restore the lost prestige of Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh, which once used to be the dark horse of the ICC tournaments, has slowed down in recent times. Their ODI record in the recent past has been pretty average and as a senior member of the side, he’ll have to take responsibility to bring the glory days back. Hence, the former Bangladesh cricketer will be a dangerous player to watch out for in these three ODI matches.

#1 Litton Das

Litton Das will be the main man for Bangladesh in the ODI series against India

Litton Das will be the main man for Bangladesh in the ODI series against India 

The new skipper of the Bangladeshi team, Litton Das usually plays higher up in the middle order because he can keep the scoreboard ticking. The batter likes to rotate the strike and play sensible cricket. He has good defensive technique and flair in his stroke play.

The frontline batter has been able to apply himself on the wicket. In 57 ODI matches, Litton has racked up 1835 runs at a decent strike rate of 88.6 having already racked up five tons and seven fifties. 

The batter can also play the role of a wicketkeeper which can come in handy for his side, especially with Mushfiqur Rahim ageing, the former Tigers skipper can concentrate on his batting while handing over the keeping responsibility to the talented Das.

In the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Litton did not manage to put up a great show barring the game against India, but he can carve out a sublime innings and deal with the pace and spin with equal elan. He is the most in-form Bangladeshi batter for the Tigers in the last two years and will be the most dangerous for the Men in Blue in the upcoming series.

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