Following two back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Bangladesh cricket team, the Indian cricket team would be hoping to eliminate the chances of a complete whitewash by winning the dead rubber – the 3rd ODI match in Chattogram on Saturday, December 10. Ahead of the 3rd ODI match between India and Bangladesh, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said India can’t afford to take the dead rubber, saying that momentum is crucial for the upcoming Test series later in the month.
After losing the series opener against Bangladesh, the Indian cricket team failed to chase 272 in the 2nd ODI of the ongoing 3-match series in Mirpur on Wednesday. Despite a stunning knock of 82 from Shreyas Iyer and a valiant 28-ball 51 not out from Rohit Sharma, who braved an injury and batted at No. 9, the Indian cricket team failed to chase the total of 271 runs and fell short by just 5 runs. As a result, Bangladesh took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Before this ODI defeat, the Men in Blue had lost an ODI series against Bangladesh in Bangladesh in 2015 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
Meanwhile, speaking to Sony Sports after Bangladesh sealed the three-match series with a 5-run win over India, legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar explained the reason why India will have to win the 3rd ODI match. He said:
“They have to pick their strong side. It’s a matter of finding confidence for the Test match that follows. The composition of the Test squad and the ODI squad is going to be a little different,”
For the unversed, India is scheduled to play an all-important two-match Test series against Bangladesh in the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship.
Gavaskar also pointed out how it is important for Team India to try and win the 2 Test series against Bangladesh before they face the mighty Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series in February-March next year. In order to qualify for the World Test Championship final, India needs to win at least 5 of their remaining 6 Tests.
“But against a team that is batting and bowling so well, Bangladesh have been outstanding. India need to win this. India need to reduce the margin to 2-1. Win the 3rd ODI and get their confidence up and try and win the Test in Chattogram,”
He added: “The incentive, of course, is if India win the Test series. India have got 4 Tests against Australia in February. If they win these two Tests, out of these 6 Tests, they have to win 5, they give themselves a very good chance to qualify for the World Test Championship,”
