SPORTS

The ODI series loss to Bangladesh couldn't have come at a worse time for Team India as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have called for a review meeting in Mumbai. After crashing out of T20 World Cup 2022 in the semifinals followed by back-to-back ODI series losses to New Zealand and Bangladesh, the BCCI office-bearers will meet captain Rohit Sharma, coach Rahul Dravid, NCA chief VVS Laxman and former captain Virat Kohli when the side returns to India from Bangladesh after the Test series.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has hopes from the rising fast bowler Umran Malik who continues to delight with his express pace. From being roped in as a net bowler during the second half of IPL 2021 in UAE, Umran has seen his stocks skyrocket in the blink of an eye having played his full season in the T20 league earlier this year before subsequently making his India debut in both the ODIs and T20Is.

Now batting legend Sunil Gavaksar says that Umran is the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar, one of the greatest batters to have played the game, that he has been the most excited to see playing for India.

Team India suffered a heart-breaking loss to Bangladesh in the first ODI of the three-match series in Dhaka. Having scored just 186 while batting, India pulled off a spirited comeback and put themselves in a dominating position when they reduced Bangladesh to 136 -9. However, an unbeaten 51-run stand for the 10th wicket between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman saw Bangladesh pull off a win by 1 wicket.

India skipper Rohit Sharma firmly admitted that his side were let down by their efforts with the bat in their one-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, saying another 30 to 40 runs could have made a difference. Despite having a line-up in which batting resources were available till No.9, India had a disappointing time with the bat on a slow pitch, being bundled out for a paltry 186 in 41.2 overs as Shakib Al Hasan used his line, length, and the crease well to pick 5 for 36 while Ebadot Hossain was consistent in his usage of short balls to scalp 4 for 47.

For India, K.L Rahul was the lone ranger, making a fine 73 off 70 balls and did the majority of scoring in the 60-run stand with Washington Sundar. "It wasn't enough runs. Another 30-40 runs (with the bat) would have made a difference. With K.L. and Washy, we could have got there. Unfortunately, we lost wickets in the middle, and it is not easy to come back," he said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out of the ODI series set to begin on December in Mirpur against Team India due to a groin injury. The skipper went through an MRI and it was revealed that he has got a groin injury which will make him sit out of the One-Day series against India. Moreover, it is questionable whether he can return to his duties for the Test series against India as well, which is set to begin on December 14 in Chattogram. Tamim sustained the injury on Wednesday during a warm-up match at the same site. Taskin Ahmed, the fast bowler, was ruled out of the first ODI due to a back ailment earlier on Thursday.