A bitter, yet intense rivalry is expected to produce a cracker of a contest when a confident India takes on a fiery Bangladesh in the final of the tri-series here on Sunday.
While the second-string Indian team recorded a hat-trick of comfortable wins after its opening loss to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh reached the summit clash with a couple of dramatic wins over the host. The results after a tense encounter in which it beat Sri Lanka on Friday, with Mahmudullah rising to the occasion with a winning six, will give the Tigers immense confidence.
There will be no inches given when the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim or Mahmudullah step onto the field.
A cut above
However in terms of sheer talent, the Indian team is a cut above its Bangladeshi counterpart.
The opening pair of Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan has scored runs across the globe.
Dhawan has scored close to 200 runs in the tournament, while skipper Rohit is back in form after an 89 off 61 balls against the same opposition.
One worry for India will be the second specialist seamer. Both Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Siraj have proved to be expensive.
It will be interesting to see who plays.
It can also be that Axar Patel or Deepak Hooda is used as an additional spin-bowling all-rounder on a slowish track.
The teams: India: Rohit Sharma (capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, K.L. Rahul, Axar Patel, Deepak Hooda and Mohammed Siraj.
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt.), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Nazmul Islam, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Imrul Kayes, Ariful Haque, Nurul Hasan, Abu Hider Rony and Abu Jayed.
Match starts at 7 p.m.
