India will head into their Super 12 clash with Bangladesh on Sunday in Navi Mumbai with a sense of relief and renewed confidence. India has already sealed a place in the semi-finals and it will focus on fine-tuning momentum to play the semis against Australia. After a shaky start in the tournament, India hit top gear against New Zealand.
The venue offers a familiar advantage. Navi Mumbai, which will host both India’s semi-final and final, has become something of a fortress for the team. Several adjustments against New Zealand appeared to pay off, including reverting to a five-bowler setup while leaving all-rounder Amanjot Kaur out.
The promotion of returning Jemimah Rodrigues to No. 3 also worked wonders and with knockout games approaching, India may continue experimenting with combinations to perfect their template.
Impressive bowling lineup
India’s bowlers were equally impressive. Seamers struck early, backed by a disciplined attack that kept New Zealand under pressure throughout. While the middle order wasn’t thoroughly tested, these upcoming matches provide a valuable opportunity for players to gain time in the middle ahead of the high-stakes games.
India have batted first in five matches, chasing only once — a narrow four-run loss to England — and could consider testing themselves in a chase if they win the toss to round out preparations.
Upset possible on Sunday?
For Bangladesh, this match represents a chance to upset one of the tournament favourites. The team has run stronger sides close on multiple occasions, relying on a disciplined bowling attack — arguably their biggest asset. There have been flashes of resistance with the bat and sustaining that for longer periods could make them a tricky opponent for India.
Pitch report
The pitch has been covered amid rain forecasts for Sunday evening. Historically, the surface aids batting, while fast bowlers have managed to extract some early movement. Conditions could therefore play a key role in how both teams approach the game strategically.
Probable XIs
India Probable XI: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani
Bangladesh Probable XI: Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana (Captain/WK), Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Nishita Akter, Marufa Akter