What Final ODI of the three-match series between India and Bangladesh When June 24th, 2015 Where Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur The Teams India It is a tough pill to swallow for the men in blue. By their own acceptance, they have been outplayed by a side that has shown a lot of intent and vigour to prove their growing prowess in the limited overs format. The result - India have suffered a series loss, a kind of first in the history of the game to Bangladesh. A highlighting factor in both losses was the team’s batting frailties. They failed to chase a 300-plus target after a good start in the 1st ODI and in the second ODI could post just 200. Come Wednesday if India have to end on a high they need to show that they are not mere paper tigers. The big guns need to step up and stamp their authority. A telling knock might just be round the corner. Bangladesh This team is on a different high altogether. These are times worth cherishing for a young Bangladesh side. Afterall a series victory against a full strength India ODI side doesn’t come every day. What has been more impressive about the wins is the call for all-round improvement even after convincing victories. While their coach Hathurasingha envisions a brighter future for Bangladesh cricket, Captain Mashrafe Mortaza has urged to maintain the good run in the tournaments ahead. They have already earned themselves a ticket to the 2017 Champions Trophy and the “big achievement” as Mortaza labelled it might just be a pointer of better things to come. When they meet India in the final ODI, one can expect the same level of aggression and purpose to make it three in a row. They have the series in the bag with a 2-0 reading at the moment and they would be more than happy to lift the cup with 3-0 written all over it.

Key Players

India Captain MS Dhoni has received a lot of flak after the team’s series loss but as he has always operated over the years, one can expect him to walk out in his own calm demeanour and hold the side together trying to get the best from his personnel. He himself managed to get a few runs under his belt in the previous match and would be looking to take that form ahead in the final ODI. Leaders lead by example and Dhoni is no exception. He has a huge responsibility of avoiding a whitewash and it will come as no surprise if and when India end the series on a good note. Bangladesh With a fifer on debut and six wickets to follow; a total of eleven wickets in just two games, 19-year old left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman is already a star. If anyone thought his fifer in the 1st ODI was a mere one-off occasion, Mustafizur returned with a six-wicket haul to reiterate the fact that he belonged to the big stage. Not once, but twice he has left the famed Indian batting line-up vulnerable to his bowling skills. The Indian batsmen have treated him with a lot of respect in both ODIs, such has been his impact. Definitely, will be Bangladesh’s impact player in the final ODI as well. Stat Overview Performance in 2015

Form guide (most recent listed first): India: L, L, L, W, W Bangladesh: W,W,W,W,W Bangladesh’s recent bilateral ODI series at home lead India 2-0 beat Pakistan 3-0 beat Zimbabwe 5-0 lost to India 2-0 lost to Sri Lanka 3-0 beat New Zealand 3-0 beat West Indies 3-2 Trivia India have conceded more 300-totals and 5-wicket hauls than any other team in ODIs – 72 and 63 respectively. Mustafizur Rahman alone has taken 11 wickets in two matches in the series. All Indian pacers have a combined aggregate of 6 wickets! Last time India lost all matches of a bilateral series (minimum three matches) was against South Africa in South Africa in 2006-07, when they were blanked 4-0. The Squads India: MS Dhoni (C & WK), Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav. Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Arafar Sunny, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Rony Talukdar, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.