India-Bangla Super-4 stage game today

Dubai, September 20

An upbeat India will be eyeing another convincing victory over Bangladesh in their first game of the Super-4 stage of the Asia Cup on Friday.

After a lacklusture show against minnows Hong Kong, the defending champions led by stand-in captain Rohit Sharma rode on an all-round show to outclass Pakistan by eight wickets on Wednesday.

India, however, would be careful on Friday as the Mashrafe Mortaza-led Bangladesh are well-known party spoilers. Captain Rohit will be well aware that Bangladesh are no longer a team of the past as the Mortaza-led side came with a clinical show against Sri Lanka and boast of some quality players in their squad.

Axar, Shardul join Hardik in pull-out list 

The Indian cricket team's injury woes were compounded on Thursday with spinner Axar Patel and speedster Shardul Thakur ruled out of the Asia Cup, joining all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the casualty list. Pandya was also ruled out of the tournament with an acute back injury he suffered on Wednesday. Deepak Chahar has replaced Pandya in the squad, Ravindra Jadeja will come in for Patel, while Siddarth Kaul will be flown in as reinforcement for Thakur. Left-arm spinner Patel injured his left index finger while fielding in the same game against Pakistan. Right-arm pacer Thakur experienced right hip and groin soreness after the game against Hong Kong. Chahar, Jadeja and Kaul will join the team on Thursday. — Agencies