ICC T20 World Cup 2016: India vs Bangladesh combined T20 XI

India face Bangladesh in a must-win clash at Bengaluru today. The men in blue have finally set the ball rolling with a good win over Pakistan. But a tight group with quality teams makes it necessary for India to not just win but win handsomely to amend their poor net run-rate.The tigers, on the other hand, have got off to a disastrous start losing both their matches and having two of their premier bowlers banned by the ICC. They will be desperate for a win just as India would be.Both the teams have some exceptional T20 players who can comprise a talented team of the highest order. Here is the India-Bangladesh combined T20 XI.[NB: Tamim Iqbal has been in tremendous form and is currently the highest run-getter in this year's tournament having scored 257 runs from 4 matches at an average of 128.50. He, however, missed the match against Australia due to illness and has been left out of this team as there is still no clarity about his fitness as of now.]

#1 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has not quite set the T20 World Cup on fire so far. He was considered to be one of the main men to lead the Indian charge but has failed so far to live up to the expectations. But everyone feels that a good knock is just round the corner.

Over the last few years, Sharma has turned into a prolific opening batsman for India in limited-overs cricket. He makes it to the team based on his astonishing numbers and it will not be surprising if he turns things around pretty soon. India will need him back in form for their campaign to be successful.

#2 Soumya Sarkar

The young, dashing southpaw has been at the centre of the Bangladeshi resurgence over the last year and a half. Particularly fond of flashing hard outside the off-stump, Soumya Sarkar is the quintessential hard-hitting opener tailor-made for T20 cricket.

Sarkar has unfortunately not been able to give Bangladesh the starts expected of him so far in the tournament. Nevertheless, he is a dangerous batsman and can strike fear in the mind of the bowlers at the top of the order.

Sarkar needs to come good soon if Bangladesh are to turn their disastrous campaign around. He is overdue for a big innings now and that makes him even more dangerous.

#3 Virat Kohli

No amount of praise is going to be enough for India's limited overs' vice-captain for his recent performances. Almost unanimously considered to be India's best batsman at present, it was his masterclass that dragged India out of the woods against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

He has so far been the reassuring presence amongst a faltering middle order in the tournament. Kohli remains India's brightest hope if they are advance to the later stages of the tournament. At the moment, Kohli can do no wrong. And India need him to keep playing the way he has been for the last few years.

#4 Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Australia — Shakib Al Hasan plays a shot against Australia at The Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on March 21, 2016.

Having carried the burden of an entire nation for so many years now, Shakib Al Hasan's contribution to the Bangladeshi team cannot be denied by anyone. He has been considered to be one of the last genuine all-rounders for some time now.

Shakib has had a decent tournament so far and is the highest wicket-taker at this stage with 9 scalps to his credit. He has also scored 109 runs to go with it and is the second highest run-getter from Bangladesh in this year's tournament. He is a dangerous all-rounder who can turn the match on its head with bat and ball.

#5 Yuvraj Singh

Ever since his comeback, Yuvraj Singh has been a calming presence and has shown glimpses of his past self now and then. He put in good performances against Australia in the bilateral T20I series Down Under and then in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

Against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in the last match, it was his counter-attacking knock that turned the tide in favour of India. Yuvraj stitched in a crucial, match-winning partnership with Kohli to show that he is still a vital cog in the Indian middle order. He is also a canny left-arm bowler and can be utilised if the conditions assist spin bowling. Yuvraj thus makes it to the team as a batting all-rounder.

#6 MS Dhoni

Amidst all the hue and cry of him not being good enough any longer, MS Dhoni has silenced his critics by his clinical power-hitting in the few chances he has got in the last few matches. Despite a possible diminishing calibre with age, Dhoni still remains one of the best finishers in limited overs cricket today.

With doubts over whether he would captain India till the next World Cup, Dhoni would be hungry to do well in what could be his last major ICC tournament. It would be nice to complete a full circle as a captain if he could lead his team to glory in the World T20 this time. He makes it to our team as the wicket-keeper and the captain.

#7 Mahmudullah

Against Australia in their last T20I, there was no stopping Mahmudullah Riyad. The destructive Bangladeshi all-rounder top scored with an unbeaten 49 off 29 balls in an innings decorated with seven fours and a six. He single-handedly powered Bangladesh to a formidable 156 after they had got off to a slow start.

He can also be a clever off-spinner which makes him a great asset to have in any T20 side. He will be hoping to produce some late fireworks against India and repeat the good work that he has done against Australia. His also brings some much needed experience to the side.

#8 Mashrafe Bin Mortaza

Once a fiery pace bowler who used to spearhead the Bangladeshi pace attack, Mashrafe Mortaza has dropped quite a bit of pace because of prolonged injuries. Just before the tournament, he shocked cricket fans by admitting that this could be his last major ICC tournament.

Mortaza is still a clever medium fast bowler and doubles up now as a big-hitting batsman down the order. He has led the Bangladeshi side impeccably ever since he has taken over the reins of captaincy. Under him, Bangladesh have outgrown the minnows tag. Mortaza would love to turn around their campaign and go out on a high.

#9 Ravichandran Ashwin

India's frontline spinner who seems to have taken on the mantle from the legendary Anil Kumble, Ashwin has been a tremendous blessing for India ever since he made his debut. A bowler with exceptional skill and a quick-thinking cricketing brain, he has been Dhoni's trump card across all formats of the game.

Dhoni has been primarily using him during the first six overs of powerplay in this tournament so far. Ashwin relishes the challenge of bowling with the hard new ball and tries to stem the flow of runs even while picking up wickets. He is going to be a challenge for the Bangladeshi openers who face him up front.

#10 Mustafizur Rahman

One of the best emerging talents when it comes to left arm pace bowlers has to be MustafizurRahman. Rahman who can clock speeds of well above 140 kmph also bamboozles the batsmen with his slow off-cutters. So well disguised are his cutters that many quality batsmen have been flummoxed by them.

It was Rahman's quality performances that helped Bangladesh register home series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa last year. After an injury lay off, Rahman made an impressive comeback against Australia in the tournament.

Against Australia, he came away with figures of 2 for 30 and pushed Australia close. In that match, he bowled Smith round his legs -- a feat very few fast bowlers can boast of. He will try to continue the good work against India.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah

Ever since he first burst on to the scene in the Australia tour, Jasprit Bumrah has not put a foot long. His talent is admittedly immense and his consistency has been staggering to say the least. He is the man who has solved India's bowling woes for some time now.

Bumrah is a death over specialist who can execute the yorkers with inch-perfect precision. In the early overs, he looks to swing the ball and regularly beats the bat. He has been economical while picking up wickets because of his pace and slingy action. India will hope that he can keep doing the good work in the tournament.

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Edited by Staff Editor