Overwhelming favourites India open their World Cup campaign with a match against co-hosts Bangladesh on February 19, at Mirpur, Bangladesh.
Let's take a look at how Indian batsmen have performed individually against their sub-continental rivals in past ODIs:
1. Virender Sehwag: In 11 games against Bangladesh, Sehwag has scored 328 runs @ 29.81. This is less than his overall average of 34.64. Interestingly, Sehwag has not scored a century against India's world cup co-hosts. His highest score being 70, at Dhaka, in 2004. But the opener has made a useful contribution with the ball, having taken 9 wickets @ 20.55.
2. Sachin Tendulkar: In 10 games, Tendulkar has made 354 runs @ 44.25, marginally lower than his overall average of 44.97. Like Sehwag, Tendulkar has not scored a hundred in ODIs against Bangladesh, and has a highest score of 82 no. He also has 12 wickets @ 14.58, with a best bowling of 4/54.
3. Gautam Gambhir: In 9 games, Gambhir has notched up 542 runs @ 67.75 (against a career average of 40.43). He has 2 centuries with a highest of 107 no.
4. Virat Kohli: In 3 games, Kohli has scored 204 runs @ 102, with a highest of 102 no. This compares favourably with Kohli's overall average of 46.44.
5. Suresh Raina: Raina has scored 186 runs with a highest of 116 no. He is yet to lose his wicket against Bangladesh in 5 matches, giving the left-hander an average of infinite.
6. Yuvraj Singh: In 12 matches, Yuvraj has 344 runs @ 38.22, as against a career average of 36.61, with a highest of 102 no, a solitary ton. He aso has 4 wickets @ 42.00, with a best of 2/40.
7. Mahender Singh Dhoni: In 11 matches, Dhoni has 317 runs @ 63.40, with a highest of 101 no. Dhoni's career average is 48.80.
8. Yusuf Pathan: In 2 games against the world cup co-hosts, Pathan did not get to bat, but took a wicket @ 53.80.
Only 7 of these batsmen are likely to play on February 19. The batsman likely to be left out is Kohli, who has an average of 102, with Yusuf Pathan likely to find favour on the back of his explosive batting in South Africa. Also, Pathan is a more than useful bowlers of the middle overs.
A brief analysis shows that barring the openers, all other batsmen have done well.
The fact that Pathan has not got to bat in two matches reveals the dominance of the middle order, while underlining the mediocrity of the Bangladesh middle over bowlers. With Mashrafe Mortaza absent from the line-up, the Indian batsmen could be in for a run feast, beginning with Sehwag and Tendulkar.
Let's take a look at how Indian batsmen have performed individually against their sub-continental rivals in past ODIs:
1. Virender Sehwag: In 11 games against Bangladesh, Sehwag has scored 328 runs @ 29.81. This is less than his overall average of 34.64. Interestingly, Sehwag has not scored a century against India's world cup co-hosts. His highest score being 70, at Dhaka, in 2004. But the opener has made a useful contribution with the ball, having taken 9 wickets @ 20.55.
2. Sachin Tendulkar: In 10 games, Tendulkar has made 354 runs @ 44.25, marginally lower than his overall average of 44.97. Like Sehwag, Tendulkar has not scored a hundred in ODIs against Bangladesh, and has a highest score of 82 no. He also has 12 wickets @ 14.58, with a best bowling of 4/54.
3. Gautam Gambhir: In 9 games, Gambhir has notched up 542 runs @ 67.75 (against a career average of 40.43). He has 2 centuries with a highest of 107 no.
4. Virat Kohli: In 3 games, Kohli has scored 204 runs @ 102, with a highest of 102 no. This compares favourably with Kohli's overall average of 46.44.
5. Suresh Raina: Raina has scored 186 runs with a highest of 116 no. He is yet to lose his wicket against Bangladesh in 5 matches, giving the left-hander an average of infinite.
6. Yuvraj Singh: In 12 matches, Yuvraj has 344 runs @ 38.22, as against a career average of 36.61, with a highest of 102 no, a solitary ton. He aso has 4 wickets @ 42.00, with a best of 2/40.
7. Mahender Singh Dhoni: In 11 matches, Dhoni has 317 runs @ 63.40, with a highest of 101 no. Dhoni's career average is 48.80.
8. Yusuf Pathan: In 2 games against the world cup co-hosts, Pathan did not get to bat, but took a wicket @ 53.80.
Only 7 of these batsmen are likely to play on February 19. The batsman likely to be left out is Kohli, who has an average of 102, with Yusuf Pathan likely to find favour on the back of his explosive batting in South Africa. Also, Pathan is a more than useful bowlers of the middle overs.
A brief analysis shows that barring the openers, all other batsmen have done well.
The fact that Pathan has not got to bat in two matches reveals the dominance of the middle order, while underlining the mediocrity of the Bangladesh middle over bowlers. With Mashrafe Mortaza absent from the line-up, the Indian batsmen could be in for a run feast, beginning with Sehwag and Tendulkar.
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