Bangladesh are in a spot of bother as the Tigers lost half of their side inside the first Powerplay in their Champions Trophy opener against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today. 

Bangladesh are left tottering at 36 for five after nine overs.

It would have been a hattrick for Axar Patel in his very first over and the Tigers would have been six down had India skipper Rohit Sharma not fumbled an easy catch at first slip to give Jaker Ali a reprieve in the ninth over. 

Axar, having just come into the attack, removed Tanzid Hasan Tamim (25 off 25) and Mushfiqur Rahim (0 off 1) in back-to-back deliveries. Both Tamim and Mushfiqur edged back to the keeper before Jaker survived a scare in the very next delivery.  

Earlier, just when it seemed that the Tigers were regrouping following the wickets of opener Soumya Sarkar (0 off 5) and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (0 off 2), Bangladesh lost Mehedi Hasan Miraz when the all-rounder slashed hard at an outside off delivery from Mohammed Shami to be caught at wide first-slip in the seventh over. 

Miraz departed after scoring five off 10 deliveries. Earlier, Shami had removed Soumya in the very first over before Harshit Rana dismissed Shanto in the second over of the game.

Soumya, Shanto depart without opening their accounts as India strike early

India pacers Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana struck early as they removed Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, both for a duck, in the two sides' Champions Trophy opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today. 

Soumya survived only just five deliveries but could not open his account as he inside-edged a Shami delivery back to the keeper in the final delivery of the very first over. 

Shanto departed soon after when he hit a Rana delivery straight into the hands of Virat Kohli at short cover. Shanto also could not open his account, having played four deliveries. 

Bangladesh are 11 for two after three overs. 

No Mahmudullah as Bangladesh opt to bat first against India

Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first in their Champions Trophy opener against India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium today. 

The Tigers are going with three pacers -- Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman -- and two spinners -- Rishad Hossain and Mehedi Hasan Miraz -- in their eleven for today's game. Experienced batter Mahmudullah Riyad, however, has not been included in the side due to a knock. Also, young pace sensation Nahid Rana, who garnered a lot of attention even in the pre-match press conference, did not start.

"We would like to bat first. Looks a good wicket so we want to put runs on the board. We have played good cricket today and the boys are confident," Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said during the toss. 

The toss worked out perfectly for India as well as their skipper Rohit Sharma mentioned that he would have liked to field first. 

India, who have the most spin-heavy squad in this tournament, opted to go with three spinners -- Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav -- and three pacers -- Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana, and Hardik Pandya. 

India, however, start this game by creating an unwanted record of losing 11 tosses in a row in ODIs -- the joint-most alongside the Netherlands who lost 11 tosses in a row between March 2011 & Aug 2013.

Playing XIs:

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman

India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami