India expected to go past Bangla in style

The planner must have expected England to be playing in front of the MCG crowd for the 2nd Quarter Final clash and it turned out to be Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has played a game against Sri Lanka in this very ground during the qualifying round. They had lost the match due to problems in field placings and dropped catches.

Bangladesh has fared very well in the qualifying rounds and they deserve to be in the last eight. They have played some fearless cricket. To beat England as they did at Adelaide was quite convincing.  They have batters who have been in the side for more than half a decade and on top of that they have Mahmuddulah who has scored 2 centuries in a row that has taken the team to where they are right now. Tthey have Sarkar, Shakib-Al-Hasan and Mushaquir Rahman who have all had decent series so far in this World Cup. It is now the turn of Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes to show their class. Tamim Iqbal has already been a proven customer during the 1st World Cup tie against India in 2011.

With the return of Mashrafe Mortaza to the team, their bowling department will look slightly stronger. 

But all these are not going to stop India from going past them in style, as Bangladesh team is going to face the defending champion on the same ground, where Sri Lanka beat them quite convincingly.

India have topped the group with some excellent individual performance and they have played as an unit. It is time for Kohli and Rohit Sharma to show their mettle once again.

I would have Axar Patel as a possible replacement to Jadeja, as Jadeja was found wanting in most of the matches.

Pitch

The pitch for the quarter final is the same one that was used in the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka tie in the group game. Its expected to be flat and full of runs.

Weather

Some showers are forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening and even this comes in the way, India will still come on top because of their full points secured in the group games

My Playing XI:

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Dhoni, Ashwin, Axar Patel, Shami, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav