Bangladesh’s psychological edge over India

After two convincing wins over a full-strength India and clinching the first ever bilateral ODI series against the Men in Blue, Bangladesh look to drive home the advantage during the third and final match of the series at Mirpur Stadium.

Prior to June 21, India had just once lost consecutive ODIs in a bilateral series in Asia in the last five years. It was against Pakistan at home in 2012/13.

India lost the first ODI against Tigers on June 18 by 79 runs, the worst defeat in terms of runs to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh won the second ODI at Mirpur with 54 balls in the bag. It was India's worst defeat in terms of balls remaining to the Tigers.

The crushing losses are most likely the cause of dressing-room rift among players with the added pressure of avoiding a whitewash, according to Chanchal Bhattacharya, the childhood coach of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"He (MS Dhoni) is unable to deliver his best because of mental pressure and because of the dressing room's environment as well as the media. I haven't spoken to him but I feel the environment of the dressing room is bad," Chanchal said to press.

Bhattacharya, however, said that the dressing room environment may have been the reason behind Dhoni's recent remark suggesting that he was ready to step down as the skipper.

"If it is justifiable if you remove me and the Indian cricket will start doing well, and if I am the reason for all the bad that's happening to Indian cricket, definitely I would love to step away and play as a player." MS Dhoni said during the post-match briefing after the second match.

Bangladesh having carried the tag of 'minnows of world cricket' for a number of years looked the superior side in all departments against two-time world champions India in the 3-match ODI series.

Tigers scored 300 against India for the first time during the opening game of the series. The century opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar was a record as well.

Bangladesh's middle order batsmen have all got some runs under their belt. Worryingly for India, when they try to up the ante, they have invariably managed to do so.

Magnificent Mustafizur has the Indian batting line-up in his spells, bamboozling them with a clever mix of slower off-cutters and orthodox deliveries.

Mustafizur Rahman has 11 wickets so far, three more in the third ODI will give him the world record for most wickets in a 3-match series. Ryan Harris of Australia had taken 13 wickets against Pakistan in January, 2010.

Bangladeshi young pacer Mustafizur Rahman celebrates with teammate Nasir Hossain in the first ODI against India at Mirpur. File photo: Star