In 41 matches, Team India has won 32 times, with Bangladesh winning 8. One match didn’t have a result.

The Indian cricket team will open its account in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh on February 20. The match will be played in Dubai. India come from a solid 3-0 ODI series win against England at home and enter the tournament as one of the favourites. Placed in a crunch group featuring Pakistan and New Zealand, India will want to start well and stamp their authority. India have dominated the Tigers in ODIs. In 41 matches, Team India has won 32 times, with Bangladesh winning 8. One match didn’t have a result. In Dubai, India have played a total of 6 ODIs (W5, NR1). Bangladesh have played three games (W1 L2).

Ahead of a crunch contest, we present the key player battles that will play an important role in this contest.

Mustafizur Rahman vs Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma enters this tournament on the back of his 32nd ODI ton. Rohit has promising numbers in Dubai and is keen to continue his form here. Of late, Rohit has struggled against pace. As per ESPNcricinfo, across 39 innings in international cricket in 2024, Rohit was dismissed 22 times by pacers from 39 innings. He averaged 29.09.

Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman will be vying for Rohit’s dismissal early in India’s innings. Mustafizur is a clever bowler and has plenty of variations up his sleeve. Across 10 innings in ODIs, he has dismissed Rohit 3 times. Rohit has scored 130 runs from 123 balls at 43.33.

Rohit has a positive average against left-arm pacers in ODIs: 50.39. In 131 innings, left-arm pacers have dismissed Rohit on 33 occasions. Rohit’s strike rate is 88.59. On the other hand, Mustafizur thrives against right-handed batters. He has claimed 115 wickets at an impressive 25.19.

Taskin Ahmed vs Virat Kohli

With his offerings, Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed can be a pretty handful for the Tigers. Taskin is well-oiled, experienced, and boasts 109 wickets from 77 matches at 30.01. Taskin hopes to get the better of Kohli, who has a knack for fiddling on the 4th stump channel. Taskin has relative experience against right-handed batters, averaging 24.55. He owns 86 scalps against right-handed batters.

Versus Kohli across 4 innings in ODIs, Taskin has conceded 35 runs from 34 balls at 35, dismissing the batter once. On the other hand, Kohli has also dominated right-arm pacers, averaging 59.90. Across 266 innings, he has scored 7188 runs, being dismissed 120 times. His strike rate is 93-plus. In Asia, he averages 59.38 against right-arm pacers, scoring 4038 runs and being dismissed 68 times from 156 innings.

Moreover, Kohli loves batting against Bangladesh. He has 910 runs at a whopping 75.83 and a strike rate of 101.78.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz vs Shreyas Iyer

Right-arm off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be handy for Bangladesh, leading their spin unit and also being a pivotal asset with the bat. Mehidy’s stocks have risen of late and could be a potential game changer. He will relish bowling against Shreyas Iyer, who comes into the tournament on the back of a solid ODI series against England. Shreyas is an excellent force against spin and will want to be positive.

Across 2 innings, Mehidy has bowled 25 balls to Shreyas, conceding 34 runs. However, Shreyas has succumbed to the spinner on both occasions.

Mehidy has a poor average against right-handed batters in ODIs (42.68). Across 98 innings, he owns 54 dismissals in this regard. Meanwhile, Shreyas has bagged 257 runs from 204 balls against right-arm off-spinners. He has been dismissed 4 times and averages 64.25, with his strike rate being 125-plus.

Ravindra Jadeja vs Mushfiqur Rahim

Ravindra Jadeja enjoyed bowling against England in the recently concluded ODI series. In the two matches he played, Jadeja picked six scalps. He was also economical. Jadeja is India’s most successful bowler in the Champions Trophy. He is also one of India’s leading wicket-takers in Dubai (Odis). The stage is set for the star all-rounder to make a presence felt with his left-arm spin. Jadeja will want to find success against Bangladesh maestro Mushfiqur Rahim, who is one of the best performers against spin. He is extremely versatile.

Across 8 innings, Rahim scored 105 runs off 137 balls versus Jadeja, who dismissed the batter once.

Jadeja averages a neat 32.03 compared to right-arm batters. He has 181 scalps from 191 innings against the right-handed batters. In Asia, Jadeja averages 27.30 vs right-handed batters. He owns 120 scalps in this regard. Meanwhile, Rahim has amassed 867 runs from 104 innings versus left-arm spinners. He averages 36.12 and has been dismissed 24 times. In Asia, Rahim owns 590 runs from 873 balls (SR: 67.58). He has been out 16 times.

Kuldeep Yadav vs Mahmudullah

India’s left-arm wrist-spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, is the Men in Blues’ best proper spin option. Kuldeep would be keen to lead the line with Jadeja and Axar Patel in the mix. Kuldeep’ss tempting deliveries can unsettle Bangladesh’s Mahmudullahs, a class act in the middle order.

Across 4 innings, Kuldeep averages 31 versus Mahmudullah. He dismissed Mahmudullah once during this duel. The batter’s strike rate is 88.57.

Against left-arm spinners in ODIs, Mahmudullah averages 44.60. He has faced 1082 balls, scoring 669 runs at just 61.82. In Asia, his average drops to 39.66. Across 46 innings vs left-arm spin, he has been dismissed 9 times. His strike rate is less than 60.

Kuldeep owns 107 wickets in Asia at 28.04. Mahmudullah has scored 3321 runs at 32-plus. His SR is 74.86.