Thu Feb 20 07:12:29 UTC 2025: ## India Begin Champions Trophy Campaign Against Bangladesh Amidst Uncertainties

**Dubai, UAE:** India kick off their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on Thursday amidst a backdrop of both high expectations and lingering questions. While considered strong contenders, the team faces challenges in the form of Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, and the need for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to regain their peak form. The performance of young players like Shubman Gill under tournament pressure will also be crucial.

Recent mixed results against New Zealand and Australia have added pressure, but recent victories against England, including Gill’s Player of the Series performance, offer a glimmer of hope. However, the Champions Trophy presents a sterner test than the England series, with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand posing significant threats in Group A. A single loss could significantly impact India’s chances.

The pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which has hosted numerous major cricket matches, is expected to be slow initially, favoring pace bowlers before offering assistance to spinners in the middle overs. The pitch is expected to improve for batting as the match progresses. Dew is predicted to be a significant factor, potentially influencing the toss decision.

Statistical analysis reveals that the first innings average score at the stadium is 218, with the team batting first winning 22 out of 58 ODIs played there. England’s 355/5 against Pakistan in 2015 is the highest score, while Namibia’s 91 all out against UAE in 2023 is the lowest. The weather forecast predicts cloudy conditions throughout the match, which could impact the game.

**Possible Playing XIs:**

**India:** Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.

**Bangladesh:** Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehdi Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Jakir Ali/Towhid Hridoy, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanjim Saqib/Mustafizur Rahman.

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