Australia, no longer in control of their own destiny, will be closely monitoring Rashid Khan’s team as they confront Bangladesh on Monday night.A win for India would not only cement their top position but also potentially lead to Australia’s early exit from the tournament. A big motivation for the Indian side, which has had its share of painful defeats against Australia in previous ICC events.
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India appear to be in fine form heading into this critical game, having recently secured victories against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
A significant positive for India in this tournament has been the all-round performance of Hardik Pandya, who has contributed effectively with both bat and ball. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also emerged as a key player, delivering match-winning performances and is expected to be crucial in the middle overs.
Despite the demanding schedule, which has seen the team travel extensively, the management seems disinclined to rotate players. After arriving in Saint Lucia on Saturday night, the team opted not to train ahead of the game against Australia due to the hectic travel, as per a PTI report.
The upcoming match will be only the second day game at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium. Historical data from the venue suggests high scores in day-night matches, though England failed to chase 164 against South Africa in a recent day game. The conditions, with the sun beating down on the pitch, are likely to favor slower bowlers.
Australia face multiple challenges as they head into the match. Their batting lineup struggled against Afghanistan, and the team had an uncharacteristically poor performance in the field.
As India and Australia prepare for this crucial match, the stakes could not be higher. Both teams are not just playing for a spot in the semifinals but also for a significant psychological advantage in what has always been a closely contested rivalry.
