Asia Cup 2025: India take on Bangladesh in a high-stakes Super 4 encounter

India take on Bangladesh in the Asia Cup Super 4 with spinners expected to play a key role. While India have the stronger batting line-up, Bangladesh’s attack led by Mustafizur Rahman could test India in the middle overs

Dubai: Having overpowered Pakistan in an intense tussle, a battle-hardened Indian team will square off in another potentially volatile Asia Cup Super 4 game against Bangladesh on Wednesday, where it is expected to encounter some quality spinners.

In terms of statistics, this appears to be a lopsided encounter, as Bangladesh have won only once in 17 head-to-head T20 matches against India.

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However, since the 2015 ODI World Cup and the controversial benefit-of-doubt decision for Rohit Sharma at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the rivalry between the two teams has intensified, fuelled by partisan young fans who often perceive India as an adversary.

India’s diplomatic relations with Bangladesh have also been rocky after the toppling of the Sheikh Hasina Government. The BCCI even postponed a white-ball series, which was scheduled for August 2025, to 2026, provided a democratically elected government is in place.

On paper, Bangladesh are no match for India. T20Is are not their strongest format, and if all goes well, it could be another thumping win for Suryakumar Yadav’s men.

However, the unpredictable nature of the format and Bangladesh’s slightly stronger spin attack means they could spring a surprise. Ultimately, the gulf in batting standards between the two sides is likely to make the difference.

For India, opener Abhishek Sharma is in the form of his life, scoring at a strike rate of nearly 210, while his partner Shubman Gill has lifted his strike rate to nearly 158 after the Pakistan game. In comparison, Bangladesh’s top T20 batters—skipper Litton Das (SR 129 plus) and Towhid Hridoy (SR 124 plus)—have mediocre numbers.

Bangladesh’s best chance is to make India bat first and rely on Mustafizur Rahman at the death, and spinners Rishad Hossain (leg-break) and Mahedi Hasan (off-spin) to choke the run-flow in the middle overs. While Bangladesh’s batting unit lacks the power game to dominate Indian bowlers, they could restrict India to a chaseable 150-160.

One minor issue for India is Tilak Varma’s struggles against spin this year. Analytics site ‘CricMetric’ shows that in 2024, Tilak scored 116 runs off 61 deliveries against spinners in five games at a strike rate of over 190, with a 21.3 dot ball percentage. In 2025, he has scored only 92 runs off 80 balls in seven innings at a strike rate of 115, with a dot ball percentage of 38.

Tilak has been comfortable against pace but struggles when the ball grips and turns. With Tilak and Sanju Samson expected to bat at Nos 4 and 5, they may need to stabilise the innings in case of a mini-collapse. Rinku Singh is a better player of spin but team management has often prioritised batting continuity.

Bangladesh’s five-pronged bowling attack, led by pacers Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib, is decent if not extraordinary. Mustafizur, with his IPL experience and variations in slow bowling, will pose probing questions for the Indian batters.

Teams (from)

India: Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh

Bangladesh: Litton Das (C, WK), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin