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India will look to keep the momentum going

S. Dinakar

After the huge win over Pakistan, Dhoni’s men are virtually through

— PHOTO: AP

SPEARHEAD: Ishant Sharma will use the match against Bangladesh to find his groove in time for the final, now that India is virtually assured of passage.

Dhaka: Winning is a lot about momentum and India is unlikely to take its foot off the accelerator against Bangladesh in the final league match of the Kitply tri-series here on Thursday.

With five points and a net run-rate of +2.8 from one match, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men are virtually assured of a place in Saturday’s final. The thumping 140-run victory over Pakistan would have also lifted the team’s morale.

Despite the pounding, Pakistan, with five points and a net run-rate of -0.778 from two matches should progress to the summit clash.

Bangladesh, without a point and with a net run-rate of -1.750, has a mountain to climb in the last match of the short league phase even if it needs only a simple win to go through provided the D/L equations do not come into the picture.

Meanwhile, the weather continues to be cloudy with spells of rain.

India was humming at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium on Tuesday. The openers laid a foundation, the middle-order consolidated and then Praveen Kumar & co. bowled clinically under the lights.

On a dark brown pitch that tends to slow down as the match progresses, the openers play a key role. Under the circumstances, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir used the early pace on the ball cleverly when the field restrictions were on. Promoting Yuvraj Singh to No. 3 was a smart ploy on a sub-continental surface. The southpaw is playing spin better.

There are also indications from the two matches so far that chasing under the lights — the pitch becomes increasingly sluggish — is not the easiest of tasks.

This said, the Indian bowlers exploited the conditions well. Praveen Kumar, who has this freakish ability to hit the seam and achieve bounce or land the ball on the side to get it to skid off the surface, is a bowler with rare ability.

He can also swing and seam, change the angles with use of the crease and bring alterations in his pace and length. Importantly, he has a mind that is ticking.

Young leg-spinner Piyush Chawla might have bowled when the match had virtually been decided but then he teased the Pakistani batsmen with his flight, googlies and an improved leg-spinner.

India, however, is likely to field a couple of fresh faces on Thursday with coach Gary Kirsten renewing his commitment to rotate the side in the days of hectic schedules. This suggests that the tall and lively paceman Manpreet Gony, of a high-arm action and bounce, and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha might receive a look-in.

These are not the easiest of times for Bangladesh. The side is rebuilding after the retirement of a few key cricketers such as left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique.

The team is also missing the inspirational presence of Super Coach Dav Whatmore. The team’s form has dipped after its World Cup heroics. Skipper Mohammad Ashraful displayed some character here the other night, but then there is too much pressure on him. Ashraful admits his side is still on a learning curve.

Thursday’s match against India will be a part of a longer process.

The teams (from): India: M.S. Dhoni (captaian), V. Sehwag, G. Gambhir, Y. Singh, R. Sharma, S. Raina, Y. Pathan, I. Pathan, P. Chawla, P. Kumar, I. Sharma, R. Uthappa, M. Gony, P. Ojha, R.P. Singh.

Bangladesh: M. Ashraful, S. Nafees, T. Iqbal, R. Hasan, M. Rahim, A. Kapali, Mahmudullah, M. Moztaza, D. Mahmud, S. Hossain, A. Razzak, F. Reza.

Umpires: A. de Silva & N. Shah. Match referee: J. Crowe.

Match starts at 2.30 p.m. (IST).

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