Bangladesh Win Toss, Elect to Bowl First in High-Stakes Asia Cup Super 4 Clash Against India
Litton Das eyes dew advantage on spin-friendly Dubai pitch as Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten side chases final spot; Abhishek Sharma’s form under spotlight amid Sanju Samson selection buzz.
Dubai: In a pulsating Super 4 encounter of the Asia Cup 2025, Bangladesh captain Litton Das called correctly at the toss and opted to bowl first against a rampaging India under the floodlights of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday evening. With evening dew expected to grip the outfield later, Das’ decision underscores a tactical gamble to exploit the turning track early, setting the stage for a potential upset in what could be a virtual quarterfinal for both sides.
The match, kicking off at 8:00 PM IST, pits two unbeaten Super 4 teams against each other—India riding high after a clinical six-wicket dismantling of Pakistan, and Bangladesh fresh off a thrilling four-wicket heist over Sri Lanka. A victory here would all but book India’s ticket to the September 28 final, given their superior net run rate (NRR) of +1.456 atop the standings. For Bangladesh, still seeking their first T20I win over India since 2019 (head-to-head: India leads 16-1), it’s a golden chance to rewrite the script and thrust themselves into a three-way NRR battle with Pakistan, who sit second after thumping Sri Lanka.
Das, addressing the media post-toss, exuded quiet confidence: “The pitch looks dry and slow initially, perfect for our spinners to strike early. Dew will come into play chasing, so batting second gives us the edge. We’ve adapted well to these conditions—Mustafizur’s cutters and Taskin’s bounce could unsettle them.” Bangladesh named an unchanged XI from their Sri Lanka triumph: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das (c & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Mustafizur Rahman. The left-arm duo of Mustafizur and Taskin, who shared eight wickets across Bangladesh’s two Asia Cup wins, will lead the attack, backed by Nasum Ahmed’s guile on a surface yet to yield a 200-plus total in three years.
India, captained by the unflappable Suryakumar Yadav, stuck with their winning formula from the Pakistan game, resisting calls for rotation despite the grueling schedule. The playing XI reads: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah. Notably, Sanju Samson retains his No. 5 berth amid whispers of a middle-order reshuffle, with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate defending the choice: “With Shubman and Abhishek firing at the top, and SKY at three, Sanju’s our finisher-in-waiting. He’s figuring it out—he’s got two solid hits under his belt already.” Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion was debated, but Axar and Sundar’s spin duo was preferred for the low-bounce track, where spinners have snared 60% of wickets this tournament.
The Dubai pitch, rolled heavily post the India-Pakistan fixture, promises a balanced contest—true for pace early but increasingly grippy for fingerspinners as the game wears on. No side has breached 200 here recently, and with temperatures dipping to 30°C under humid skies (45% humidity, no rain threat), fatigue could play spoilsport in this back-to-back T20 grind. India’s batting firepower, led by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 200+ run haul (strike rate 165+), will be tested against Bangladesh’s varied attack, while Bumrah’s death-over mastery (economy under 6) looms large for the Tigers’ chase.
Pre-match buzz centered on Abhishek’s evolution, with batting coach Simon Helmot drawing parallels to Yuvraj Singh: “Abhi’s relaxed stance lets him access all angles—late cuts, whips, and those clean lofts. He’s mentally tough, training smart without over-hitting.” Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons, meanwhile, shrugged off the hype: “Every side can beat India on the day. We’re riding the wave—hype or no hype.”
As umpires Richard Illingworth and Nitin Menon signal the start, all eyes are on openers Abhishek and Gill to set a brisk tone. For India, unbeaten in 32 of their last 35 T20Is, this is about sealing dominance; for Bangladesh, it’s a shot at resurgence. The final, just four days away, hangs in the balance—may the dew decide. Live action unfolds on Sony Sports and SonyLIV, with the chase potentially turning this into another dew-soaked thriller.
