With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicking off in Pakistan and Dubai, Team India is all set to launch its campaign, facing off against a determined Bangladesh today at the Dubai International Stadium. This showdown promises to be a thrilling clash between the two-time Champions Trophy winners and the unpredictable underdogs.
Fans will be hoping that India carries forward its stellar form after a dominant whitewash against England in the recent home series. The spotlight will be on the entire squad, especially with key players regaining form, including star batter Virat Kohli.
However, India has suffered a setback with ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the tournament. Despite this, the team still boa sts a formidable bowling lineup, with Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana proving their mettle in the England series. Hardik Pandya’s all-round brilliance adds further depth, making India a well-balanced unit eager to kick off with a win.
On the other hand, Bangladesh enters the tournament on shaky ground, having struggled in the 50-over format with back-to-back series losses against Afghanistan and the West Indies. Their position in the ICC ODI rankings isn’t promising, but the Tigers will be desperate to turn things around.
A strong performance against India could be the confidence boost they need to silence critics and re-establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Looking at the head-to-head record, India has dominated Bangladesh, winning 32 out of 41 encounters—a clear statement of superiority.
As for the pitch report, the Dubai International Stadium surface has historically favored seamers, which could work in favor of Shami & Co. Early on, pacers can exploit seam movement and variations, but as the match progresses, spinners will come into play. With this in mind, India is likely to field three spinners alongside Shami and Arshdeep in their playing XI.
With the Champions Trophy campaign kicking off, all eyes will be on India’s bowling attack and their ability to adapt to the conditions. Can they start with a statement win? Time to find out!
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