With a group stage performance that handsomely did justice to their tag of ‘defending champions’, India surely start as strong favourites to advance from their quarterfinal meeting with Bangladesh at the MCG.

The venue itself would have triggered a good vibe within the Indian camp. Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have all scored centuries at MCG over the summer, with Dhawan’s knock setting up a comprehensive win over South Africa in the group stage of the World Cup. The ‘drop-in’ pitch that’s been used at the MCG should once again be a batsman’s paradise and that should be enough to tell you what either skipper will look to do if the toss goes their way.

Bangladesh are playing their first ever World Cup quarterfinal, so they certainly have nothing to lose. I felt they played with that sort of approach against England too, and we know how that turned out. The Tigers will also be drawing inspiration from the knowledge that they have beaten India in a World Cup before. Four players from the present squad, skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal were on the field at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain eight years ago, and you can bet they will be sharing anecdotes of that historic night with their current teammates.

No one can deny that they’ve come a fair way forward since 2007. Indeed, this tournament itself has seen them make steady progress from one game to the next. Remember that the England game was as good as a knockout clash, and Bangladesh would have every reason to be delighted at the way they dealt with the pressure moments. Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain were two players who stood out in that game. The former, especially, has been in imperious form with the willow, following up on a crucial half century against Scotland with back to back tons against England and New Zealand.

For Bangladesh to post a good total, you just sense a bulk of the responsibility lies on Mahmudullah’s shoulders. But he and the others will be up against an Indian bowling attack that has really surprised many, including yours truly. This was a department I could see India struggling in based on what I saw during the tri-series. But the likes of Shami and Yadav sure have come alive since the tournament began while Mohit Sharma has made the most of his late inclusion.

All said and done, you’d expect to see India take their place in next week’s second semifinal at Sydney, but not for nothing has cricket been referred to as a ‘funny old game’ down the years.

By Special Arrangement for Dawn

Published in Dawn March 19th , 2015

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