The Indian cricket team exhibited a disappointing show with the bat against the Kiwis as they were bowled out for a paltry 179. The only relief was Ravindra Jadeja’s supportive 54-run innings that solely contributed most of the runs for the 2-time world champions.
Apart from the left-armer, all-rounder Hardik Pandya scored 30 runs for India in the first warm-up, in a match where most of the crucial Indian batters faltered.
Star openers – Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma – returned with single digits against their names while captain Kohli and veteran MS Dhoni scored 18 and 17 runs respectively.
India tried out in-form KL Rahul at the most talked about No 4 position, but he too failed to make the most of the opportunity. He managed to score only six runs off 10 deliveries.
On the other hand, the bowlers did a decent job. Jasprit Bumrah once again proved himself, conceding only two runs from his four overs and picking up a wicket. Fellow pacer Mohammed Shami and spinner Jadeja delivered some economical spells while all-rounder Hardik Pandya and wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked a wicket apiece.
Bangladesh, India's opponents for today's clash, enter the 2019 World Cup without the tag of 'minnows'. The Bengal Tigers have proven—time and again in the recent past—that they are not a team to be trifled with by the opposition.
Their first match against Pakistan was washed out to due rain.
They will be participating in the World Cup banking on their triumphant run in the tri-series against Ireland and Windies. It was first ever ODI multi-nation trophy victory for the veteran Mashrafe Mortaza-led side.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (capt), MS Dhoni (wk), Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, , Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Lokesh Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar.
Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal sub, Mahmudullah, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Abu Jayed, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman sub, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin.