Can Sri Lanka, Bangladesh produce any goods?

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh’s respective 2023 World Cup campaigns have been almost as bad as Delhi’s air quality in recent times. For a change, the ‘Naagin dance’ hasn’t dominated the headlines prior to the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh clash, with everyone talking about the severe air pollution in the city and how the players are going to cope with that on Monday (November 6).

The conditions have been so bad that Bangladesh had to cancel their training session on Friday, with Sri Lanka doing the same on Saturday. A higher Air Quality Index on Monday could put the game in jeopardy, but that is not something the players from both sides can control. The things they needed to control, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh haven’t done that, and that’s why they are languishing at the bottom half of the points table.

Shakib Al Hasan and his men started the World Cup with a win but have lost six games thereafter. They are not only officially out of the semi-final race but could also miss out on a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Then there is Sri Lanka, who were humiliated by India in their last match and are only mathematically alive in the competition. They have been better than Bangladesh though, having won one more game. 

Things to watch out for 

Worst batting vs worst bowling

Let’s be honest, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been terrible in all facets of the game in this tournament. They have done too many things wrong, but for now, let’s focus on Bangladesh’s batting and Sri Lanka’s bowling. Bangladesh have the worst scoring rate (4.6) and third-worst average (24) in the competition, while Sri Lanka have the worst economy rate (6.4) and bowling average (44.6).

Bangladesh have only two batters with an average of more than 30 in this event, and their problem starts right at the top. They have lost the most number of wickets in the powerplay (16) and also have the worst average (20.1) in this phase. They have lost two or more wickets inside the first 10 overs in six out of seven encounters. Their openers are averaging 25 together, while we all know how bad Najmul Hossain Shanto (87 runs @ 14.5) has been. 

They will now be up against Dilshan Madushanka, who has taken the second-most number of wickets (7 @ 19.4) in the powerplay. However, if Litton Das and Co. manage to see off the new ball, things will get relatively easier in the middle overs, especially against spin. Sri Lankan tweakers have taken only five wickets in seven games at a horrendous average of 145.4. No Sri Lankan spinner has an average of less than 90 for in this event.

Mendis returns to Delhi

The burden of captaincy has surely got the better of Kusal Mendis. The right-hander started the tournament with a bang, slamming 76 and 122, but is averaging just 14.2 since taking over the captaincy. Surprisingly, he has struggled against spin in this event. Mendis had an average of 67.88 and a strike rate of 88.6 against spin from the start of 2022 to September 2023. However, in this WC, he has got out three times to spinners and is averaging just 25.7.

Mendis now returns to Delhi, where he smoked 76 off 42 in Sri Lanka’s first game of the World Cup. Sri Lanka’s batting hasn’t been as bad as Bangladesh’s, but apart from Sadeera Samarawickrama and Pathum Nissanka, they don’t have anyone in form. Sri Lanka need Mendis to fire and he couldn’t ask for better conditions than Delhi’s to make his presence felt.

Ground details and conditions

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi has been giving batters VIP treatment in this World Cup. In four games hosted so far, the batters here have scored runs at an average of 36.3 and a scoring rate of 6.7 which is the second-best amongst all venues. It was at this venue that South Africa amassed 428 against Sri Lanka and Australia hammered 399 against the Netherlands.

The team batting first have won three out of those four games. The venue has been a graveyard for fast bowlers, who have leaked runs at an average of 43.7 and an economy of 7.3. The corresponding numbers for spinners are 30.8 and 5.7, respectively. No other venue has produced worse numbers for fast bowlers.

Tactical insights

- It’s pretty obvious by now, just bowl short to Shakib, and other Bangladesh batters as well. They have struggled against pacers dragging their length back, as 40% of their dismissals against pace have come on the short length and back of length deliveries. They are averaging under 20 against these deliveries in this event. 

Then there is Shakib, who is having his worst World Cup with the bat. The left-hander has been dismissed five times against right-arm pacers and all those five balls were either back of length or short. He has been very vulnerable to them and three out of these five dismissals have come while attempting to play the pull shot. 

Probable XIs

Bangladesh - Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.

Sri Lanka - Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha/Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.