Asia Cup T20 2016 Final: Bangladesh will have to bowl out of their skin to beat India

Bangladesh have the talent to overcome India's firepower and win Asia Cup T20 2016, but their bowlers will need to come together as a cohesive unit.

The last encounter of the round robin clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka evidences the fact that the Mirpur pitch has lost its venom. The match saw the first time a team had scored 50 runs in the batting Powerplay this tournament. Though the Pakistani openers were going all guns blazing, the pitch offered very little to the Sri Lankan bowlers. However, the opener between India and Bangladesh appeared a different ball game altogether. Other than Rohit Sharma, no other top-order batsman could find his feet. It was a rare sight to see the bowlers dominate the batsmen in a T20 game. The pitch that made the bowlers look immaculate with sheer swing and pace seems like a featherbed for the batsman now. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup T20 2016 Final at Mirpur

Bangladesh will have to bowl out of their skin to contain the onslaught of the Indian batsmen. Though Shikhar Dhawan has not got into his own in the Asia Cup so far, he will be keen to make amends in the final. He has three scores in excess of 40 to his name in the last 9 games. Fortune and form do not take time to change. Therefore, all he needs is a stroke of luck and he will be difficult to stop on the Mirpur track. READ: India vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup T20 2016 Final at Mirpur: Preview

Rohit and Virat Kohli have been India’s most devastating limited-overs batsmen for the past few years. Both being equally good against pace and spin, Bangladeshi bowlers will have to come up with a plan to stop the run flow. Both Rohit and Kohli have bagged two Man of the Match awards each in the Asia Cup so far. READ: From ICC World T20 2014 to Asia Cup 2016, life has come a full circle for Yuvraj Singh

Kohli seems to have ironed out the chinks in his armour. In the game against Pakistan when Mohammad Aamer was on song, Kohli put a price on his wicket and played the ball according to its merit. Kohli delivers when it matters the most, and will leave no stone unturned to make his mark in the final. READ: Mohammad Aamer’s sensational spell against India in Asia Cup 2016 rekindles memories of Wahab Riaz vs Shane Watson in World Cup 2015

Suresh Raina has not unleashed his true self, as the southpaw has managed to score only 39 runs this series. He may have failed to make an impact, but has a reputation of a big match player. The Bangladeshi bowlers will have to look out for Raina, as MS Dhoni has given him license to go for the kill. If fortune favours Raina in the final, he might even display the performance of the series. READ: Hardik Pandya is proving himself an ideal all-rounder for India in T20Is

Yuvraj Singh had a dodgy start to the tournament; he was written off by critics and fans alike, but Yuvraj certainly has some gas left in the tank. As the tournament progressed, he wrestled back to form and started hitting sixes at will. He scored 35 off 18 balls in a tricky chase against Sri Lanka and followed it up with an unbeaten 25 off 14 against UAE. With Bangladesh having two left-arm spinners in their attack, it will be an uphill task to contain a marauding Yuvraj. READ: India vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup T20 2016 final: Visitors’ bowlers face tough challenge

If someone who has translated talent into performance, it is Hardik Pandya. He showed just what he is capable of the last time India played Bangladesh. Though he has had a couple of lean matches since, he is someone who will always be a danger in the late overs. Given his exploits with the ball, he is a man brimming with confidence. Bangladeshi bowlers will have to get their line and length right and not let Pandya free his arms.

With top and middle order coming good, Dhoni has not spent enough time in the middle. However, whenever he has come in to bat, he has usually ended up hitting a six or two. If the top-order batsmen perform well again in the final, Dhoni will probably not get to face a lot of deliveries. But Captain Cool knows his task: see the ball, hit the ball.

Though Bangladesh bested India in an ODI series last year, India start as firm favourites in the Asia Cup final. For Mortaza’s men to outplay India, they will have to pick up wickets and make early inroads. Bangladesh have the talent to overcome India’s firepower, but their bowlers will need to come together as a cohesive unit.

(Kaustubh Mayekar is a reporter with CricketCountry)

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