Thursday’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 action will see tournament favourites India take on Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This encounter is crucial for both teams as they aim to start their campaigns on a positive note in a tournament featuring the world’s top eight ODI nations. We’ve prepared a betting preview & a prediction for this Group A encounter.
ALSO READ: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: All You Need to Know.
Betting Preview
India come into the tournament with strong momentum, having recently achieved a 3-0 ODI series sweep against England. Despite the absence of their premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, due to a back injury, the team boasts a formidable batting lineup. Captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bring a wealth of experience, while young talent Shubman Gill has been in exceptional form, scoring 259 runs in the recent England series. The spin department, featuring Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, is expected to play a pivotal role on the spin-friendly Dubai pitches.
Bangladesh faces a challenging task, especially with the absence of key all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. The team will rely heavily on captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim to anchor the batting. The bowling attack, led by Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, will need to find early breakthroughs to put pressure on the Indian batting lineup. Historically, Bangladesh has struggled against top-tier teams in major tournaments, and their recent ODI form has been inconsistent.
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is known for its balanced pitches, offering assistance to both batsmen and bowlers. However, spinners often find more success due to the dry conditions. The average first-innings score at this venue is around 228, indicating that a total above 250 can be competitive. Dew in the evening might make bowling second challenging, potentially influencing the captain winning the toss to opt for batting first.
Statistics
- Head-to-Head in ODIs: India and Bangladesh have faced each other 41 times in ODIs, with India winning 32 matches and Bangladesh securing 8 victories; one match ended with no result.
- Recent Encounters:
- October 19, 2023: India won by 7 wickets (Pune)
- September 15, 2023: Bangladesh won by 6 runs (Colombo)
- December 10, 2022: India won by 227 runs (Chattogram)
- Key Player Milestones:
- Virat Kohli: 910 runs in 16 matches against Bangladesh.
Betting Tips
Prediction: India to win at 1.08.
Best Bet: Shubman Gill to score over 37.5 runs at 1.85.
Value Bet: Shubman Gill to be India’s top batter at 3.20.
